Menzies School of Health Research has received $761,300.00 in federal funding, as part of the Department of Health and Ageing’s ‘Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative Open Fund Round’.

The money has been allocated to launch the new national Menzies’ project, Innovative and interactive multimedia communication strategies aimed at reducing tobacco consumption among Indigenous people.

The novel project will utilise multimedia mobile technologies and social marketing strategies to engage with and communicate health messages to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, aged 18 to 25 years.

“This has proven the most effective means for achieving widespread reductions in tobacco consumption. Using similar multimedia strategies, a group in New Zealand delivered tobacco cessation video messages via mobile phones and reported a 60% rate of tobacco cessation directly related to the intervention,” the project’s Chief Investigator Dr. Sheree Cairney said.

Menzies has been researching the impact of tobacco and other substance abuse on the general health of Indigenous people for more than 17 years. This national project extends this work and their recent developments of novel and culturally relevant ways to communicate their research findings to the Indigenous communities affected.

Research findings show smoking is one of the leading causes of death in Indigenous Australians, but those messages aren’t getting through to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It’s hoped this viral campaign will overcome communication barriers, by using social networking sites, iPods and mobile phones that are now commonly used in remote communities.

"Tobacco smoking is one of the greatest causes of chronic disease, so tackling smoking is an essential step to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancies.” Sheree Cairney said.

The project aims to provide culturally relevant educational resources for both communities and health professionals, and provide a greater understanding of the impact of tobacco use on health.

Initial consultation groups will be set up within urban Melbourne, regional Darwin and remote settings in the Northern Territory, but the resources created will be available nationally.

Menzies’ Researcher Sheree Cairney – 0438 121 473

| Mob: 0447 275 415 | Fax: 08 8927 5187 | www.menzies.edu.au