A Chinese Community Partnership Project in Tobacco Control: a way to work with non government organisations — Agentur Pty Ltd
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A Chinese Community Partnership Project in Tobacco Control: a way to work with non government organisations (15)

Brenda Leung 1 , Tammy Tong 2
  1. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Dolls Point, NSW, Australia
  2. Community Connections, Pole Depot, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background:

Smoking prevalence is higher in the Chinese community reported in 2010 as 20% compared to 17% in the general population. A partnership was developed between a local Health Promotion Service and a community organisation to secure funding to develop a community led tobacco control intervention. This paper aims to describe the process and outcomes of a partnership initiative in awareness raising, training and sustainable change in policy and advocacy to the local authority.

Methods:

A joint funding from the Cancer Institute NSW was secured. Intervention strategies included training of the community organisation staff, volunteers and English teachers about the harms of tobacco smoke. This information was further integrated into bilingual teaching workbook as well as promoted through local community and health events. The community organisation reviewed the Smoke-free Workplace policy and advocated the local government to install a smoke-free signage at a park close to the site of the organisation.

Results/Discussions:

This community led intervention has resulted in 48 participants: staff, teachers and volunteers’ capacity in addressing tobacco issues. Results from 150 student survey indicated that the workbook motivated smokers to quit and also increased their English vocabulary. The outcome of the review led to change of Smoke-free policy in accordance to the NSW Tobacco Legislation Amendment Act 2012. The advocacy strategy has eventuated the installation of smoke-free signage at the park surrounding this community organisation by the Local Government. The success of this project was recognised by the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Awards 2013 for development of the workbook for the community.

Conclusions/implications:

Effective partnership with community organisations could attract funding opportunities to address health equity and make sustainable change both in knowledge, capacity and policy of tobacco control. It also encourages ownership of a health issue and mobilises the whole community to take actions.

#equity14