Tjuntjuntjara, one of Australia’s most remote communities in the heart of the Great Victoria Desert, is home right now to a burgeoning public health catastrophe. In fact, approximately 70 percent of its adult population smokes daily. Situated 1,300 kilometres east of Perth, this small Indigenous community has been hit with those expensive tobacco products. The smoking epidemic is compounded here by the appalling mental health climate. Local leaders are working to add more resources and programs that will support current smokers in quitting while improving the well-being of all residents.
Community members have shared how smoking is fuelling deadly social issues in Tjuntjuntjara. Donna Marie Brown underscored the widespread smoking culture, which creates thousands of barriers that impede prosperity of this historically oppressed community. Like all addictions, as smoking becomes more accepted as a social activity, many people find themselves truly unable to quit.
Besides the health ramifications, the economic cost of smoking takes a toll on citizens. Tjuntjuntjara’s local store sells tobacco products at prices over 45 per cent above those sold in Australia’s biggest supermarket chains. A sign in the store warns customers that tobacco prices are going to continue to increase. Generating this increase will add considerable pressure on the already-stressed finances of the community.
Economic Strain from Tobacco Prices
Local resident, Lawrence Minning said that extremely high cigarette prices were a major issue for many residents living in Tjuntjuntjara. He explained that it is an unaffordable expense for residents, adding even more barriers to quitting.
“Cigarettes are too expensive in Tjuntjuntjara,” – Lawrence Minning
And the financial pressure is crushing. Government estimates place the average amount that people pay for tobacco products at one-third of their income. This troubling reality is a major red flag not just for public health, but for the community’s long-term economic health.
Stephen Farrington explained that there was an urgent need for mental health support in Tjuntjuntjuntjara to address intergenerational trauma and the underlying causes driving smoking. He stated that the loss of these resources has led people to use cigarettes as an unhealthy coping strategy.
“We’ve got no visiting psychiatrist to make [a] diagnosis,” – Stephen Farrington
Lack of mental health support leads residents to struggle with addiction and many other social issues.
Urgent Call for Support and Programs
Jon Lark, a local Save the Caucus advocate, has been repeatedly, loudly calling for the state to fund more smoking cessation initiatives. He hopes more people will join the cause, but he knows that’s what it’ll take to change the culture of smoking in the community.
“There’d be over 70 per cent of people who smoke in Tjuntjuntjara,” – Jon Lark
Lark’s frustrations mirror those of residents across all communities who view smoking as an obstacle to leading a healthier life. The Kalgoorlie-based Bega Garnbirringu Health Service recently received a $1.7 million emergency boost. This funding will address health challenges across WA’s Goldfields, and particularly in Tjuntjuntjara. From the perspective of many residents, more resources are indispensable for their implementation to work well.
As a former smoker, Mr. Stevens provided insights into how social pressures fuel the smoking culture in Tjuntjuntjuntjara.
“It’s so social that someone will come and offer them a cigarette and they go, ‘Oh, it’s only one,’” – Mr. Stevens
His experience is a testament to the powerful influence of communal behaviors to sustain a high smoking rate. This emphasizes the importance for intervention programs to consider these social determinants.
A Community’s Hope for Change
Thousands more are ready to take the next step toward quitting smoking and regaining their health. When Mr. Stevens thought about his path to becoming smoke-free, he said,
“I used to smoke, but I don’t smoke no more,” – Mr. Stevens
This feeling is shared among many who are looking for help and better tools to escape the grasp of tobacco addiction. To the people that live there, taking on smoking means more than just one thing. This approach should encompass health education, mental health services, and economic support.
