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lung story

The Lung Story consists of a series of colourful, highly visual resources based around tobacco smoking issues. The resources are specific to Central Australian Aboriginal communities and have been developed by Aboriginal people in conjunction with the Tobacco Action Project, Central Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Services, DHCS Alice Springs to address the smoking dilemma in remote Aboriginal communities.

aboriginal smoking dilemma in central australia

The Aboriginal smoking dilemma is a complex cultural problem and appears to be a low priority on the agenda of concerns for drug use in remote communities in Central Australia. While recognition of the ill effects of smoking among the general population is well known, many Aboriginal people in "The Centre" still under-estimate the risks associated with smoking.

Nationally, 25% of non-indigenous people smoke whereas over 50% of Aboriginal people smoke. In the Northern Territory a 1994 survey found that 59.4% of Aboriginal males and 35.5% of females aged 13 and over smoked tobacco.

In Central Australia there is a high percentage of smokers amongst Aboriginal health workers as well as non-indigenous rural/remote nurses. There is also a lack of culturally appropriate resources on smoking prevention and cessation strategies relevant to this region.

To address these alarming statistics as well as the lack of culturally appropriate resources relevant to Aboriginal smoking issues, Territory Health Services approved a grant in July 1997 to develop a series of well researched educational resources.

community consultation is a must

A community development approach was followed and after much consultation and trialing of resources with Aboriginal health workers and community people, a comprehensive resource package on smoking issues has now been completed.

The resources cover such issues as smoking prevention and cessation, passive smoking and its effects on families; action plans for smoke-free remote communities and smoking and pregnancy.

training aboriginal health workers

At present Aboriginal health workers in Central Australia are being trained in using the many Lung Story resources appropriate to their own community. The main focus being to dissuade young people on their communities from becoming smokers, and to assist the smokers to quit.

what makes up the lung story?

The Lung Story, as the resource package is known, consists of the following resources:

paintings

• Two very colourful Aboriginal dot paintings by artist and health worker, Mildred Inkamala from Hermannsburg Community - Healthy Lung Story depicts clean healthy lungs and the implication for strong families and culture, and the other, Sick Lung Story depicts the health and cultural consequences of tobacco smoking in the Aboriginal community.
  
• Posters have been produced incorporating both paintings.
  
• A booklet outlining the cultural story around each of the paintings accompanies these posters It explores the consequences of tobacco smoking on the spirit of the person, the family, the community, the culture and the environment in Central Australia.
  

flip chart and painting

A flip chart and third dot painting by Alice Springs artist Dan Goodwin, depicts the increasing pollution due to tobacco smoke, dust, chemicals and camp fire smoke in remote communities. Here the health and strength of the tree is compared to the health of the person, family spirit and culture.

Lung Tree Story

felt boards

Two felt board stories relating to "How Smoking Affects the Body". These are accompanied by a booklet on "How Our Lungs are Affected by Tobacco Smoke and Other Pollutants".

Some communities eg: Santa Teresa developed other felt board stories on smoking related issues in their communities.

wall hangings

Five large wall hangings have been painted by Artist Dorothy Leitner. The concepts and ideas came from Central Australian Alcohol & Other Drugs, Tobacco Action Project, plus Aboriginal health workers, and community people from the remote communities of Laramba, Papunya, Yuendumu, Santa Teresa and Hermannsburg.
Booklets to accompany these have been produced eg: "Foetal Tobacco Syndrome", "Effects of Tobacco on the Body"---this booklet incorporates Quitting Techniques.

evaluation of lung story

The effectiveness of The Lung Story as a culturally and educationally appropriate resource for remote Aboriginal communities has been an ongoing process. Many amendments have been made to meet varying literary levels in different communities. Overall feedback from remote area health workers is extremely encouraging.

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