More than 70 people from the local Aboriginal community gathered in Lakes Entrance last Friday for the launch of three cutting edge initiatives.
Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA) is one of 37 organisations nationally to be funded to undertake the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program.
After Aunty Sandra Patten did a Welcome to Country and Julie Chester, wife of MP, Darren Chester, spoke, the night was kicked off by hilarious stand-up comedian, Kevin Kropinyeri.
Fresh off the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Kevin was in top form doing what he does best.
TIS regional coordinator, Rachel Clulow, then spoke about the three initiatives.
The first program, Relax with Culture, includes 10 powerful video messages.
“The overall aim of the project is to offer Aboriginal people in Gippsland a culturally appropriate relaxation and strengthening resource,” Rachel said.
“It is hoped that users will feel a greater sense of calm, feel a closer connection to culture and be more confident to face challenges with renewed inner strength without the need for drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and medications.”
The second program, The Elephant in the Room, is a four-part documentary series and a comprehensive online training package designed to assist those wishing to quit smoking.
“The program is supported by content matter experts from Quit Victoria who are keen to use the resource themselves to promote smoking cessation messages for Aboriginal people across Victoria,” Rachel said.
When members of the Gippsland Tobacco and Healthy Lifestyle Team met in 2017 to work through the details of a significant information and training package to follow on from the highly successful work they had been doing with tobacco cessation training with local Gippsland Communities, it became obvious that there was a major obstacle standing in their way. Some of them were still smokers themselves.
“The videos in The Elephant in the Room draw on their experiences and the experiences of other smoking cessation experts and are designed to help all those wishing to embark on or to continue their own quitting journey,” film director, Wayne Tindall, said.
“It was agreed that a comprehensive online learning package should be developed out of the Elephant in the Room documentary.”
This has been produced and now sits on the new TIS Gippsland website allowing for a step-by-step approach for those wanting to cut down and to quit. It is also available on USB wristbands. The third program to be launched was the new TIS website.
The website allows for a step-by-step approach for those wanting to cut down and to quit smoking.
PICTURED: Alice Pepper, William Mobourne, Xavier Pepper, Hugh Pepper and comedian, Kevin Kropenyeri, all had a great night at the Albert & Co function centre in Lakes Entrance last Friday for the launch of the new Tackling Indigenous Smoking programs.
