The Australian government has developed a new ad campaign urging Indigenous smokers to break the habit.
So why this targeted approach?
It's estimated that half the indigenous population smokes. Compare that to just one in five in the broader Australian population, and you can understand why tobacco caused disease has a devastating impact on indigenous communities around Australia.
One in five Indigenous Australians die because of smoking, while smoking is the leading preventable cause of the health gap between Aboriginal people and the rest of the Australian population.
Reducing smoking rates among Aboriginal people will help increase life expectancy for many in the community, and help close the gap.
This new campaign is part of a larger effort by the federal government to develop regional and local approaches to reducing smoking rates in Indigenous communities.
Additionally - funding from the Commonwealth and Victorian government have made it possible for the Quitline to start a specialised Aboriginal Quitline service, for Indigenous people who would prefer to speak to an Indigenous counsellor.
If you'd like to use this service, then call the Quitline on 13 7848 to arrange a time.