A new Indigenous-led campaign is encouraging pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across Queensland to go smoke and vape free during pregnancy.
Deadly Choices' 'You and me we're going smoke free' was inspired by the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who shared their experiences, goals, and challenges through community yarning circles across Queensland.
Featuring real mums, their family members and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) staff, the campaign reflects those real moments of temptation and celebrates the connection between mum and bub and highlights the support networks available for women to start their quit journey in a culturally safe way.
"Seeing a campaign that highlights the love and care mums in our community have for their bubs and empowers them to make a positive change is deadly," said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Services (ATSICHS) Brisbane CEO and proud Gubbi Gubbi woman Renee Blackman.
"For mums to be able to see themselves in the women shown in this campaign brings a feeling of connectedness and helps them to realise the support networks around them ready to assist them in making the Deadly Choice to quit."
Deadly Choices South East Queensland Operations Manager, and proud Wakka Wakka woman, Tori Cowburn, facilitated many of the yarning circles and found consistent themes around the challenges pregnant women face when trying to quit.
"It was powerful to sit with our women and yarn about what truly supports them to feel strong, grounded, and ready to quit. Holding space for these honest conversations, drawn from our lived experience, was key to shaping something meaningful for our communities."
"This campaign reflects the strength, honesty, and wisdom shared in our yarning circles. Our women's voices are now guiding others to feel empowered to live smoke and vape free - with understanding, connection, and Community at the heart of it."
Supporting resources include online information on the impacts of smoking in pregnancy, the benefits of quitting, and where to find support for a successful quit journey.
The campaign is running across Queensland. Information on quitting during pregnancy, or supporting pregnancy women to quit, is available online.
A campaign video is on YouTube.
The campaign was funded by National Best Practice Unit Tackling Indigenous Smoking.
Deadly Choices works to empower Community to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. This includes eating nutritious food, being physically active, not smoking or vaping and connecting with their local Community Controlled Health Service for a 715 Health Check. For more information contact [email protected].
