Tobacco Control Small Community Incentive Scheme Guidelines and application information Amount: Up to $1,000 (GST Excluded) For further information please contact Janelle Growden, ACOSH Project Officer/Communications Coordinator on jgrowden@acosh.org or 08 6365 5436 0
Content 1. Introduction 2 2. Your Health and second-hand smoke 2 2.1 Smoke-free outdoor places 2 2.2 Smoke-free housing 3 3. Categories/Priority areas 3 4. How to apply 3 4.1 Identify the problem 3 4.2 Strategies to address the smoking issue 4 4.3 Small Community Incentives 4 5. Guidelines 4 5.1 Project Description 4 5.2 Who will it help/target group 5 5.3 Partnerships 5 5.4 Objectives 5 5.5 Project Strategies 6 5.6 Evaluation 6 5.7 Setting 6 5.8 Timeline 7 5.9 Budget 7 5.10 Sustainability 7 6. What are the obligations of recipients? 7 7. How do I claim funding if my application has been approved? 7 8. Conflicts of interest 7 9. What is the application process? 8 10. Appendixes 8 1
1. Introduction The Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) is an independent, non-government, not for profit coalition of prominent West Australian health, education, community, social service and research bodies with a shared concern about smoking and health. ACOSH aims to raise awareness in the community on issues relating to smoking and health, and lobby governments in the fight against tobacco. ACOSH priorities for 2016 involve encouraging the WA community to be more proactive in tobacco control. A particular priority at ACOSH is to protect the population from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure by reducing smoke drift among strata-titled properties and public housing, as well as expanding outdoor smoke-free areas. The Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) Small Community Incentive Scheme provides funding to community members, strata corporations, sporting clubs, health organisations and other interested groups. The Small Community Incentive scheme can fund implementation of tobacco control policy, as well as monitoring and enforcement compliance of current tobacco control policy and legislation. The present document assists community groups and others interested in the Small Community Incentive scheme on the areas the scheme funds and how to apply for this funding opportunity. 2. Your health and second-hand smoke Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. Second-hand smoke is the smoke inhaled when others are smoking nearby. More than 50 known or suspected carcinogens have been found in second-hand smoke. Second-hand tobacco smoke is a preventable cause of death and disease, and there is no safe level of exposure. Among adults it is a known cause of cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and among children it has been shown to contribute to sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, lower respiratory tract illness, middle ear disease and asthma. 2.1. Smoke-free outdoor places There are compelling reasons to implement smoke-free policies at outdoor venues. Smoke-free environments fully protect workers and the public from the severe effects of tobacco smoke. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air, free from tobacco smoke. The majority of Australians are non-smokers and have the right not to be exposed to other people s smoke. Smoke free venues are widely supported by both smokers and non-smokers. Smoke-free policies help prevent people especially youth from beginning to smoke and provide smokers who want to quit with a strong incentive to cut down or stop. Smoke-free policies are good for business, as families with children, most non-smokers and even smokers often prefer to go to smoke-free places. Smoke-free policies cost little and are extremely beneficial. 2
2.2. Smoke-free housing: Smoke-free building policies are the most effective way to protect residents from second-hand smoke exposure. Adoption of smoke-free policies at home appears to promote anti-smoking attitudes among young people, and reduce the progression to smoking experimentation among youth who live with nonsmokers. Additionally, these policies appear to reduce consumption of tobacco products, increase the success of quitting among adult smokers and reduce relapse. Smoke-free housing results in a safer, healthier living environment for everyone. It has financial benefits, reduces the risk of fire, avoids potential legal liability for health problems resulting from smoke drift, and is supported by the community, including many smokers. 3. Categories/Priority areas The Small Community Incentive scheme will support community members, strata corporations, sporting clubs, health organisations and other interested groups to implement tobacco control policy, along with monitoring and enforcing existing legislation. Some examples of priority areas are described below; Develop smoke-free by-laws at strata-titled properties and public housing Adopt smoke-free policies at public places such as sporting clubs and five meters away from entrances of shopping centres Implement smoke-free policies at pubs and restaurants where smoking areas are permitted Enforce current smoke-free legislation at health facilities Implement other relevant projects aiming to increase compliance of the Tobacco Products Control Act This scheme could eventually assist in implementing smoke-free policies in other settings experiencing a high smoking prevalence, for example mental health and correctional facilities. ACOSH is aware that these interventions could require certain level of complexity and tobacco control knowledge. ACOSH staff will assist to clarify any questions or discuss project ideas. ACOSH staff will provide appropriate resources, copies of smoke-free policies, share successful cases and other guidance needed to implement initiatives supported by the incentive scheme. 4. How to apply 4.1. Identify the problem A smoke-free environment is the only effective strategy to reduce the level of exposure to tobacco smoke to a safe level, providing an acceptable level of protection from the dangers of SHS exposure. There is strong public support for smoke-free venues, especially places where children, pregnant women and older people gather. 3
The initial step is to identify the problem so you are able to easily define what strategies you can implement to solve it. Are you exposed to second-hand smoke? What steps can you take to protect yourself and others from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke? How can you get others to support you and get involved? 4.2. Strategies to address the smoking issue: There are various steps that you can take to protect yourself and others from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Sometimes the situation can be easily solved by locating smoke-free signage in key areas or removing ash-trays or bins from certain areas in order to discourage people smoking around others. You can simply start by: Discussing the issue with the smoker and politely ask the person to move away to avoid placing yourself and others at risk from second-hand smoke exposure Discussing the issue with the relevant authority (i.e. Strata council of owners, strata manager, shopping centre management, sporting club management or Board, health facility management or security guard, etc.) Discussing the implementation of a smoke-free by-law with management Communicating the smoke-free by-law and implementing visual signage in key areas, removing bins, etc. Identify cessation support for smokers or referring them to Quitline for assistance Once you have identified the problem, identified what you need to do to improve the situation and how realistic you can achieve your goal you can move to the next phase and think about what partners you could potentially collaborate with to implement the project idea. 4.3. Small Community Incentives: Whether you are considering implementing smoke-free signage or developing a smoke-free by-law, ACOSH is available to assist you with your efforts. All you need to do is complete and submit the application form. Please read the guidelines below, and carefully consider all the criteria. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your initiative with ACOSH staff please call 6365 5436 or 6365 5438 or email acosh@acosh.org. Please allow at least three weeks to get a response on your application. 5. Guidelines 5.1. Project Description ACOSH primarily aims to encourage the Western Australian community to become more proactive in tobacco control. ACOSH aims to support initiatives to reduce second-hand smoke exposure primarily by increasing smoke-free outdoor areas and smoke-free housing. This scheme will fund 4
those who are interested in implementing tobacco control policy and/or monitoring and enforcing existing legislation. The project description needs to be a clear and concise outline of the project and should be no longer than half to one A4 page. This section should provide a summary overview of your proposed smoke-free initiative and should give ACOSH staff a clear sense of the rest of the application. The type of information that is relevant to this section includes: Who? (Who is the project aimed at/ who will be involved?) What? (What is the actual initiative e.g. introducing a smoke-free by-law in your strata titled housing, for example) When? (When are you planning to conduct the initiative?) How? (brief outline of how you plan to conduct your proposed smoke-free initiative) 5.2. Who will it help/ target group Who is your initiative aimed at? Who most is at risk/exposed to second-hand smoke? 5.3. Partnerships List which groups or organisations will be working with you or having some input into the smokefree initiative and what input/role they will have. Indicate if any agencies are able to provide any inkind budget support. 5.4. Objectives Objectives describe the specific changes you expect to achieve within this initiative. They should describe what changes the initiative will bring about, not the activities that will be conducted in the program. Objectives must be written in the SMART format i.e. they must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. 1. Specific- Be clear about the changes you want to achieve 2. Measurable- Are your objectives able to be measured? 3. Achievable- Are the objectives achievable and attainable? 4. Realistic- Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have? 5. Timely- When do you want to achieve the set objectives by? Examples of objectives: Increase by 80% the proportion of smokers who adhere to the designated smoking areas in the Carrousel Shopping Centre by October 2016 5
Decrease by 10% the proportion of members who smoke at the Sunshine Bowling club by October 2016 Introduce a smoke-free by-law at Belmont Apartment Complex by July 2016 and decrease the level of second-hand smoke exposure for tenants 5.5. Project Strategies The project strategies should generally form the largest section of your application. For each strategy, it is important to describe exactly what will be done and by whom. In choosing the right mix of strategies, you need to consider the following points: Which strategies have been shown to be effective in achieving the type of objectives you have set? Have you considered strategies that are effective for the chosen target group? Is your project using a mixture of strategies (if possible) For example, using the case of the introduction of a smoke-free by-law at Belmont Apartment Complex, some strategies could include: Review existing complex by-laws and current legislation (Smoke-free living resource) Develop an advocacy plan to get a Smoke-free by-law approved, including targeting Strata Management, Council of Owners and key neighbours Amend by-laws and implement visual smoke-free signage 5.6. Evaluation When evaluating an initiative, you are judging how well it achieved what it set out to do. It is important that a clear evaluation process is developed at the start of the project to ensure that the most appropriate information is being collected. You will need to briefly outline when the evaluation will be conducted and how you will collect the information. The evaluation should be closely linked to your objects, hence the need for these to be so specific. Again, using the Belmont Apartment Complex case, your key result included on your evaluation plan could be; Smoke-free by-law approved and implemented at the Belmont Apartment Complex. 5.7. Setting Where will your project be taking place? E.g. your strata titled building, sporting club, shopping centre or another venue. 6
5.8. Timeline This section requires you to show the main activities of the initiative (This may only be a few dot points). When choosing your timeline, remember it needs to be achievable and realistic. Don t try to squeeze too many activities into your project. 5.9. Budget The amount of the Small Community Incentive scheme is up to $1000 (GST excluded). The budget should clearly identify on-costs, resources administration costs, travel (at the government rate of 50c per hour) and evaluation. If your initiative will receive in kind support from another organisation, it is important to note that in this section. 5.10. Sustainability ACOSH does not have the capacity to provide ongoing funding for smoke-free initiatives. Sustainability is the ability of the initiative s objectives to be maintained in the long term, beyond the small incentive scheme. This does not mean securing alternative funding once the ACOSH funding ends, rather it means developing strategies within your initiative and setting which will ensure that a smoke-free environment is maintained (e.g. changing a by-law, using sustainable signage, etc.). 6. What are the obligations of Small Community Incentives recipients? Submit regular, brief, progress updates (this could be photos of signage going up, new draft bylaw etc.) Provide a final acquittal, brief report of the completion of the initiative Please note: ACOSH will reserve the right of using and adopting by-laws/policies developed from this initiative or drafting a case-study outlining successful results of your project to be shared with other community members to gain learnings and better understanding and encourage others to be more proactive in tobacco control. 7. How do I claim funding if my application has been approved? The grant must be spent wholly for the purposes for which it was requested. Once approved ACOSH will notify the applicant of the successful application. The grant amount will be decided from the application form and the money will be directed. 8. Conflicts of interest: Organisations and their affiliates must not accept/ be accepting any form of funding from tobacco companies, or their related foundations, involved in marketing and/or distribution of tobacco products. 7
9. What is the application process? All applications must be submitted on the application form available on the ACOSH website: www.acosh.org Applications must be received by email to acosh@acosh.org 8