Message from the Executive Program Lead NBPU TIS, Eileen Van Iersel

The NBPU TIS team delivered the first 2026 Jurisdictional Workshop for WA, SA, VIC, NT and TAS in Scarborough, Perth (Boorloo). Across two days, 138 attendees came together to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships across the sector. With many new TIS workers joining teams this year, the workshop provided an important opportunity to welcome new staff into the network and support collaboration across jurisdictions. Registrations for the second workshop have been sent, so please ensure your team register to attend.

Last month, I had the honour of attending the World Indigenous Cancer Conference in Auckland. The conference provided valuable discussions and perspectives relating to Indigenous health outcomes, prevention, and culturally informed approaches to care.

World No Tobacco Day will be held on 31 May. We would like to hear about the activities, events and campaigns your teams are planning. Please connect with your Program Officer or our Marketing and Communications Manager so we can help share and promote the important work taking place across communities.

I would like to formally welcome Darrien Bromley to the NBPU team as Program Manager. Darrien is an Adnyamathanha and Narungga man on his mother’s side, and Wankangurru and Yarluyandi on his father’s side. He brings extensive experience in Aboriginal health leadership, with strong expertise across workforce leadership, cultural development, risk management, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. We are pleased to have him join the team.

We have also welcomed Tim Tuikaba as the new Program Officer for the Northern Territory, alongside Barbara Baugh who joins the team as Workforce Development Lead. Both bring valuable experience and knowledge to their roles, and we look forward to the contributions they will make in supporting TIS teams and strengthening workforce development across the program.

Illicit tobacco continues to receive national attention, with recent reports outlining increased enforcement activity, including major seizures of illicit cigarettes and vapes by the Australian Border Force. Increased compliance activity targeting retailers selling illicit tobacco and vaping products is also continuing across jurisdictions. As we know, every illicit product removed from circulation contributes to stronger efforts to protect the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Thank you again for your continued work and commitment across the program.

Eileen Van Iersel
Executive Program Lead NBPU TIS