The work of the ACOSH team is currently undertaken by a small team assisted by an extensive network of medical professionals. The work of ACOSH relies totally on funds from a number of sources and the support of many individuals interested in and concerned about smoking and health. ACOSH funding and support is provided by Healthway and The Cancer Council WA. 

How you can help

Achievements to date by ACOSH are just the beginning. To realise fully its enormous potential, ACOSH needs more support. We are working collaboratively with a number of agencies. We welcome your support. Just how you can assist in our important work will depend on who you are and what you do.

If you are a student, you may be able to assist by working with us as part of your electives and other placements. If that is not possible, you may wish to think about undertaking work with us as part of research and other projects. Contact us.

If you have undertaken a major research project as part of tertiary studies (particularly doctorate and masters studies) or advanced clinical training (such as smoking counselling) we would greatly appreciate a copy of your thesis, or dissertation, preferably in both hard copy and electronic forms. Contact us.

If you are an academic or other researcher, you can assist by providing copies of relevant research and other outputs. These include hard copy resources (such as journal articles, reports and other publications--including books and book chapters--and conference abstracts) and output in various other media--such as videos, CDs, etcetera. You can help also by making your students aware of our need for relevant theses and other major research reports. Contact us.

If you are a politician or senior government officer, and able to encourage a greater level of government support, particularly from state and territory government. The ACOSH Council encourages all those jurisdictions to work with ACOSH to develop a long-term program for change in the tobacco regulations in Australia. Contact us.

If you work at senior levels in the Health, Education or associated sectors, you can greatly assist our work by becoming a sponsor or by providing other targeted resources. Contact us.

If you work in health promotion, you can greatly assist us in the identification, and preferably collection, of relevant data materials. Volunteer your services or even apply for a position with us. Contact us.

Anyone else can still assist us--by giving feedback about our site, by making a donation or by undertaking some voluntary work. Regardless of who you are and what you can do, we welcome any support you can provide so that we can contribute even more to improving the health of Australians. Contact us.

History

The Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) was formed in 1967 in New South Wales by Dr Cotter Harvey, President of the Medical Board of New South Wales, and also President of the National Tuberculosis and Chest Association. ACOSH was modelled on the Interagency Council on Smoking and Health established in the United States in 1964 to bring together Government agencies and health interest groups to sponsor conferences, facilitate co-operation, and educate the medical profession and the public about health and smoking. Branches of ACOSH were established in other States including, in 1971, Western Australia. Dr. Bob Elphick was elected the president of ACOSH in 1971 and was a driving force in tobacco control. In 1978, the Sydney branch of ACOSH ceased to exist, and national direction of the organization passed to Western Australia.

Campaigns

ACOSH reaches the public through community and health organisation and partnerships, and media exposure with regular press and radio campaigns including the newly designed smoke free website.

Services

Council members offer lectures to health and other professional organisations, universities, schools, community groups and service clubs. Consultancy services for individuals and organisations concerned about smoking control and all legal aspects related to smoking.

ACOSH offers the public and government an independent authority on smoking control. ACOSH liaises with governments to initiate smoking control strategies and to enhance the effectiveness of existing strategies, and at the same time remains independent of government. As an autonomous body, it is effective both as a medical advisory council and as a pressure group. ACOSH Council is a small band of dedicated professionals and relies mainly on voluntary assistance.

Resources

ACOSH houses Australia's most comprehensive resource collection on smoking and health. It also conducts its own program of research into smoking in the community. Books and audio visual material are available for loan and ACOSH's library on smoking is available for public use. Information requests covering all aspects of smoking control at a nominal cost. Publications including up to date information on smoking and health, passive smoking, smoking in the workplace, women and smoking, children and smoking, cigarettes and the law and smoking in restaurants to name a few are available online and in the library.

Membership

Initial membership of ACOSH in Western Australia was from the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian Colleges of General Practitioners, Physicians, Pathologists and Surgeons, and other major medical bodies within the State. Later, members from other health and education organisations and allied professional associations were included. Each of these organisations nominates a member who attends monthly Council meetings, and liaises between ACOSH and the member organisation. Members participate on a voluntary basis, offering their services free of charge. Thus, ACOSH is able to provide a wide range of professional services for a very low cost. The majority of Council members are doctors, and it is for this reason that ACOSH is recognised as a medical authority in smoking control. All the major medical specialities concerned with smoking and health--for example, respiratory medicine, vascular surgery, epidemiology, paediatrics and oncology--are represented on ACOSH by medical specialists who are eminent in their fields. Click here to view current member organisations of ACOSH.

Click here to view the Timeline