When my wife and I walk through parks, car parks, footpaths or bush tracks around Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the signs are hard to ignore. Discarded vape cartridges, crushed cigarette packets, and sometimes used syringes sit in plain view. For many families in the Goldfields, this has become part of the everyday landscape. Children pass it on their way to school. Parents step around it at the shops. Over time, it quietly normalises a cycle of addiction that affects homes, workplaces and entire generations.
In our region, quitting smoking or staying vape-free is not an abstract health goal. It is about being present for your family and not missing the moments that matter.
Against this backdrop, Bega Garnbirringu Health Service has developed its anti-smoking and anti-vaping strategy. The “Kalgoorlie – Make a Change” hip hop campaign was not designed as a top-down message, but as a community-led response to a deeply embedded issue. Through music, storytelling and local voices, it engaged people across age groups, turning participants into advocates and creating content shared across television, radio, print and digital platforms.
The urgency remains clear. Smoking continues to be a leading cause of preventable death and chronic disease in the Goldfields, with disproportionate impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and on regional communities where access to specialist care is limited. The consequences are cumulative: higher rates of heart disease, respiratory illness, cancer, pregnancy complications and diabetes-related conditions. These pressures extend beyond individual health, affecting families, workforce participation and an already stretched regional health system.
Evidence consistently shows that culturally grounded, community-led campaigns are among the most effective ways to shift behaviour. Participants in the “Make a Change” project reported stronger understanding of the harms of smoking and vaping, including the effects of toxins and second-hand smoke. Many also expressed a clear intention to remain smoke-free and to influence others. External reviewers described the campaign as “best practice,” noting its creative, community-owned design and its impact beyond the region. Broader research reinforces this, linking strong campaign recognition with increased motivation to quit or avoid nicotine use.
Bega’s approach has also demonstrated adaptability. During COVID-19, when face-to-face engagement was restricted, the program shifted to social media and phone-based support, maintaining reach and connection. This reinforced a key lesson for regional service delivery: people need to be reached in multiple ways, wherever they are.
However, awareness alone is not enough. A persistent challenge for regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations is the gap between motivation and access to support. Bega provides a comprehensive model spanning clinical care, health programs, social support and training. Yet demand often exceeds capacity. People ready to quit may face delays, limited after-hours services or fragmented care. In those moments, motivation can fade before it translates into lasting change.
A familiar scenario illustrates what is at stake. A local parent hears the campaign message at a community event and decides to quit. Within days, their breathing improves. Within weeks, their energy returns. Over time, they become more present in their children’s lives. For those children, the impact is generational: a smoke-free home becomes the norm, reducing the likelihood they will take up smoking or vaping themselves.
This is the real outcome these campaigns aim for, not just awareness, but lasting changes in identity, behaviour and health.
Sustaining this progress requires continued investment in two connected areas: culturally appropriate, community-led campaigns that keep the message visible, and accessible, well-resourced support services that ensure people can act when they are ready. When these work together, the result is fewer preventable deaths, stronger families and a healthier future for the Goldfields.