The Horsham-based group has launched the Spot the Difference campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of passive smoking.

The campaign involves images on the back of buses in Horsham and at Goolum Goolum events highlighting how passive smoking affects children.

The images show a smoke-free home and a smoke-filled home.

Goolum Goolum health promotion co‐ordinator Dean O’Loughlin said the campaign’s strong visuals were a way to show residents how smoking affected everyone.

“We are trying to highlight that smoking in the home with children should not be the norm,” he said.

“Children have limited choices when it comes to exposure to passive smoke; watching TV with an in‐house smoker becomes an unhealthy scenario for our young children.

“Evidence tells us that smoking is a major health issue in the indigenous community. As advocates for our community, Goolum Goolum is tackling this issue head on.”

Mr O’Loughlin hopes smokers who see the images will think twice about their behaviour.

“We want them stop and think about how making our homes smoke-free can have major positive effects on a family’s health and wellbeing,” he said.

Mr O’Loughlin said Goolum Goolum developed pledges for people to sign as part of the campaign.

“There are a range of pledges that all community members can sign up to, not just for indigenous people and not just for smokers,” he said. “There are pledges to stop smoking in the home and in the presence of children, but there are also pledges to become an ambassador championing the cause. 

“I don’t think anyone wants to see our children taking up smoking.

“We are hoping this ‘out of sight‐out of mind’ approach will limit exposure to this unhealthy habit.” 

Mr O’Loughlin said people had the option to apply for help to quit smoking, including a referral to a tobacco awareness worker, when they signed a pledge.

He said people could visit www.goolumgoolum.org.au/take‐the‐pledge to be part of the campaign.