Indigenous health workers and artists create anti-smoking anthem nominated for National Indigenous Music Awards

Sara's baby is crying. She can hear him where she stands outside, but she can't go to him yet.

First, she has to wash her hands of the nicotine coating them.

Sara knows — more than anyone — the risks of second- and third-hand smoke; nicotine lingering on clothing, skin and in hair.

Her mum is an Aboriginal health practitioner.

But the lure of a cigarette was too much to resist, four weeks postpartum.

After washing her hands, she changes her shirt, then ties her hair back.

Finally, she could comfort her baby.

"I felt so bad that I couldn't go to him directly," the proud Gumbaynggirr woman reflects.

She hasn't smoked since.

"As hard as that situation was, I'm kind of glad I went through it," Sara says, "Because it really ignited a passion for me, to help other young Aboriginal mothers wanting to quit or make a better choice for their baby."

Now, she works in the ReadyQuitSolid team in Coffs Harbour, as part of the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program.

Sara is one of many young health workers educating their communities about the harms of tobacco and nicotine.

Last November, Sara teamed up with peers and musicians to create an anthem to inspire others to consider the tactics used to promote smoking and vaping.

She says it "feels surreal" to have the song nominated in the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Vaping was a "buffer" to help musician Sky (aka Soju Gang) keep showing up for her community and family, while working multiple jobs.

The Naarm-based DJ and designer tried to quit multiple times, but didn't have time to deal with "smokers flu."

"I didn't have a week and a half or two weeks to be sick — to get that nicotine out of my system."

But when work started to wrap up late last year, Sky decided to try quitting again.

Around the same time, she got a request to collaborate on a song with Tackling Indigenous Smoking workers and the Yardhura Walani Tobacco Free Program at the Australian National University, headed by associate professor Raglan Maddox.

"The choice to make a song was deliberate," Dr Maddox says.

Last November, his team brought together artists and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers for a week long creative development.

Artists Nooky, Fred Leone, Soju Gang, RIAH and Dallas Woods worked alongside production company Grand Trine Creative and health workers to share stories, write lyrics and film a music video.

The process of creating the song was a "continuous reminder" of why Sky decided to quit: that it was urgent.

"We can't continue communal work if we're not only exhausted and short of breath. We also can't continue that work if we're not here anymore."

While the latest Closing the Gap data says more First Nations people are living smoke-free, the target of closing the life expectancy gap within a generation is not on track to be met by 2031.

Between 2004–05 and 2022–23, the rate of daily smoking for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 18 years or over declined by about 19 per cent.

And according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the rate of smoking at any time during pregnancy has decreased since 2011.

The most preventable cause of early death is tobacco smoking, and it is directly responsible for one-third of cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to the Department of Health.

Corey Webster is a proud Yuin and Thungutti man, and the ARIA-winning rapper Nooky.

He was one of the five artists to work alongside health workers and leaders to write, record and film the song Voices of Resistance.

"Tobacco and vaping were never meant to be in our communities. The impacts have been devastating," Nooky says.

Smoking causes 37 per cent of all First Nations deaths, rising to half of deaths for people aged 45 and over, according to the Department of Health and research by the ANU.

"While the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry's tactics might be hard to see, the damage to communities is not."

For Sara, working with artists like Nooky was a validating experience.

"To have these five artists stand up alongside us and be like — we think that what you guys are doing is important… it kind of gives you a little bit of legitimacy."

Sara workshopped lyrics, sang and helped record the music video and now is "so proud" the song has been nominated for Best New Talent at the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards.

"I know that in the moment when we were building this song it felt powerful to us, but then you get nominations alongside deadly artists like INKABEE and Zipporah. It just takes it to the next level."

The National Coordinator for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program, Professor Tom Calma AO, says the relationship between nicotine and communities goes back to the time of colonisation.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says that, after adjusting for differences in age, First Nations people are more than twice as likely as non-Indigenous people to smoke daily.

"For too long, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have carried the burden of tobacco-related harms," Tom Calma AO says.

Professor Calma told Radio National Breakfast that the introduction of wage equality in 1968 was "the beginning of the end" of providing tobacco as part of the ration pack given to Aboriginal people in lieu of cash payments.

Now, part of his work with the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program is empowering communities to come up with messages to be free of tobacco.

Professor Calma thinks Voices of Resistance is "excellent" for a number of reasons.

Largely because it was developed by young people from across Australia in collaboration with professional artists and videographers, he says, to reflect the voice of the community.

"The lyrics are strong and the message is powerful," Professor Calma says. "I love it, especially watching the enthusiasm of the youth in workshopping the lyrics and discussing how it would be received by the community."

He says recognition in the NIMAs is a "tremendous honour."

Professor Calma says the nomination is also a recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples exercising self-determination.

"By sharing messages of hope for the next generations to not take up these evil products and to encourage family and friends to give up if they do smoke or vape.

"When given information and support in a culturally safe environment, our people will take the appropriate action to kick the habit or flip the vape and have hope for a long and healthy life."

Remy Morris started smoking cigarettes when she was 15. She was a dual user, before shifting completely to vaping.

"I quit multiple times," the proud Kamilaroi woman explains

Her latest attempt to quit came after a netball game.

"I came home and all I could taste was blood."

"I was coughing, I had that metallic taste in my mouth."

"The vape had so much control over me and my actions and I went nup, and I chucked it in the bin. Haven't touched it since."

For Remy, quitting wasn't only about her individual health.

"In order for us to be healthy, our country has to be healthy too."

"Most vapes are disposable and they're just chucked around everywhere."

"By littering and causing that destruction, it causes harm to our people. Everything is sort of interlinked."

Remy says she continues to stay smoke and vape free for her country, her family and for her future.

She studies Public Health at the University of Canberra, while working with the Yardhura Walani Tobacco Free Program

"I think this is just such a powerful song," Remy reflects, "And I think it's awesome to see it recognised and the message being spread. And the fact that Baker Boy and other deadly artists will hear the song makes it even cooler!"