Health Minister Roger Cook today announced a Healthway grant of more than $2.3 million to extend the Cancer Council Western Australia's Make Smoking History project until 2021, including the Community Services Program.
In Western Australia, while the prevalence of smoking is declining in the general community, it remains high among disadvantaged groups and people with mental health illness.
The grant will go towards a new television campaign, online training platform for organisations working with vulnerable groups, and strategies to support engagement with community services in regional and remote areas of Western Australia.
The television campaign will include new material targeting priority audiences and giving smokers additional reasons to quit.
The Community Services Program will be delivered in partnership with local organisations providing services in the areas of homelessness, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, financial hardship and Aboriginal health to implement organisational change and increase access to best practice quitting support.
Make Smoking History was established by the Cancer Council WA in 2000 and has since been jointly funded by Healthway, the Department of Health and Cancer Council WA.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"The Community Services Program of the Make Smoking History project involves the collaboration of local health services, primary care and community services to deliver essential quitting support and resources to vulnerable Western Australians.
"Tobacco smoking is still one of the leading causes of preventable illness and premature death globally, and we will continue our efforts to create a smoke-free WA.
"The Make Smoking History Community Services Program complements the McGowan Government's comprehensive approach to reduce smoking in WA, along with restrictions on smoking in public places, strict point-of-sale laws and tobacco control advocacy."
