• New national advertising campaign targets Indigenous Australians who smoke
• Decline in smoking rates among Indigenous Australians
• Anti-tobacco programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Early success in efforts to ‘Close the Gap’
• Local Health Networks replace Area Health Services from 1 January 2011

New national advertising campaign targets Indigeous Australians who smoke posted 28 March 2011
The Health Minister Nicola Roxon and the Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowden, today launched the 'Break the Chain' campaign, an advertising campaign deisgned to contribute to a decrease in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that smoke. The ‘Break the Chain’ television commercial features an Aboriginal woman reflecting on how smoking has impacted on her life and the lives of those close to her. The campaign will be shown nationally through both mainstream and Indigenous television, radio and print media channels. To watch the television advertisement click here. To learn more about the campaign visit the Quit Now website.

Decline in smoking rates among Indigenous Australians posted 16 February 2011
The Koori Mail has had a look at the recent AIHW report into Substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strit Islander people, and its findings. To read their article click here.

Anti-tobacco programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people posted 2 February 2011
The Closing the Gap Clearinghouse has produced a resource sheet: Anti-tobacco programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The sheet gives an overview of tobacco use in Aboriginal communities and the effectiveness of current responses. Check out the information on SmokeCheck!

Early success in efforts to ‘Close the Gap’ posted 19 January 2011
The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, recently released the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package Annual Progress Report 2009-10, the first government report detailing the achievements and progress of the ‘Close the Gap’ campaign aimed at reducing the difference in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The annual report shows that since July 2009 progress has been made, with the establishment of a Tackling Smoking and Healthy Lifestyle workforce made up of 41 Healthy Lifestyle Workers, 21 Tobacco Action Coordinators and 20 Tobacco Action Workers. The full report is available here: ICDP Yearly Report 2009-2010.

Local Health Networks replace Area Health Services from 1 January 2011 posted 13 January 2011
The NSW Department of Health has implemented new clinical support clusters and the establishment of Local Health Networks (LHNs) across NSW. Eight LHNs now cover the Sydney metropolitan region with seven covering rural and regional NSW. For more information visit the NSW Department of Health website by clicking here.