Provision of a National Best Practice Unit for Tackling Indigenous Smoking

The Department of Health requires the services of an organisation (or consortium) to support the implementation and ongoing delivery of the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) programme nationally. The successful organisation will be referred to as the National Best Practice Unit (NBPU) for TIS. The NPBU will be instrumental in supporting the implementation of an outcomes-focused approach to the TIS programme.

The NBPU will be required to work primarily with grant recipients funded under the TIS programme for regional tobacco control activities, with support and leadership from the National Coordinator Tackling Indigenous Smoking, Professor Tom Calma, AO.

The functions of the NPBU will include (but are not limited to):

1. Developing and maintaining operational guidelines for tobacco reduction among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

2. Providing a range of organisational support to grant recipients to implement evidence-based approaches to tobacco control.

3. Providing support to grant recipients to develop and implement performance indicators and data collection methods, and contributing to an overarching programme evaluation to measure the impact of TIS funded activities.

4. Facilitating workforce development to support the reduction of tobacco use, primarily for individuals and organisations funded by the TIS programme.

5. Disseminating evidence and information on best practice, building a community of practice, and promoting a culture of evaluation and continuous improvement for the TIS programme.

6. Providing advice and assistance to the Department to implement an outcomes-focused approach to the TIS programme.