Andrew Perusco is a tobacco control policy and program specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the Commonwealth and NSW public services. Andrew has made significant contributions to tobacco control policy and program implementation, including leading: policy development and program implementation for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program from 2016 to 2020; development of the National Tobacco Strategy 2012-2018; national policy approaches for electronic cigarettes; and planning, implementation and evaluation of the seminal Arabic-speakers tobacco control project in southwest Sydney.

Andrew is placed at the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University and his research is affiliated with the National Health and Medical Research Council, Centre for Research Excellence in Achieving the Tobacco Endgame. Andrew’s research explores why tobacco endgame measures have not been incorporated into Australia’s tobacco control policies, and what might precipitate adoption.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Raglan Maddox

Publications

• Eccles, J, Knowlden, S, Rich, D, Perusco, A, Matthews, D, Grootemaat, P & Williams, M 2006, ‘The Clean Air for All Project: Managing nicotine dependence in two mental health units in Sydney South West’. NSW Department of Health, Sydney.
• Perusco, A, Poder, N, Millen, E, Hawkshaw,,B, Hua, M 2006, ‘Developing a social marketing campaign on tobacco use for Arabic-speakers in southwest Sydney’. Research and Ethics Conference. Sydney: Liverpool Hospital.
• Perusco, A, Rikard-Bell, G, Mohsin, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Poder, N, Williams, M, Farag, L, Hua, M, & Guirguis, S 2007, ‘Priorities for tobacco control for Arabic-speakers: key findings from a baseline telephone survey of Arabic-speakers residing in southwest Sydney’. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. Vol. 18 No. 2 pp. 121-126.
• Carroll, T, Poder, N & Perusco, A 2008, ‘Is concern about waterpipe tobacco warranted?’ Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 181-182.
• Perusco, A, Mohsin, M, Poder,,N, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Williams, M & Guirguis, S 2008, ‘Evaluation of the Arabic tobacco control project Ma’feesh cigara men gheir khosara’. Health Promotion Symposium November 3-4, Sydney: Australian Health Promotion Association.
• Ahasan, N, Dunkerley, N, O’Brien, J & Perusco, A 2008, ‘Wesley Mission Sadleir pilot tobacco project: revolutionising smoking norms within a residential drug rehabilitation setting’. Health Promotion Symposium, November 3-4, Sydney: Australian Health Promotion Association.
• Poder, N, Perusco, A, Carroll, T, Birkett, J & Kiss, A 2008, ‘Waterpipe smoking in an Arabic-speaking population in Sydney’. Diversity in Health Conference, March 10-12, Sydney.
• Perusco, A, Mohsin, M, Poder, N, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Williams, M & Guirguis S 2008, ‘Evaluation of the Arabic tobacco control project Ma’feesh cigara men gheir khosara’. Population Health Congress, July 6-9, Brisbane: Public Health Association Australia.
• Perusco, A, Poder, N, Mohsin, M, Rikard-Bell, G, Rissel, C, Williams, M, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M & Guirguis, S 2010, ‘Evaluation of a comprehensive tobacco control project targeting Arabic-speakers residing in south west Sydney, Australia’. Health Promotion International. Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 153-165.
• Gartner, CE, Wright, A, Hefler, M, Perusco, A & Hoek, J 2021, ‘It is time for governments to support retailers in the transition to a smoke-free society’. Med J Aust. Vol. 215, No. 10, pp. 446-448.
• Puljević, C, Morphett, K, Hefler, M, Edwards, R et al. 2022, ‘Closing the gaps in tobacco endgame evidence: a scoping review’. Tobacco Control, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 365-375.
• Perusco, A Holland, A, Maddox, M, Morphett, K, Heris, C & Gartner, C 2022, ‘Justice in Australian tobacco control?’ Population Health Congress, September 21-23, Adelaide: Public Health Association Australia.
• Gartner, C, Perusco, A, Heflter, M, Rooney, T-J & Morphett, K 2022, ‘With a new National Tobacco Strategy under development, let’s block Big Tobacco interference’. Croakey Health Media [Blog], Available at: www.croakey.org/with-a-new-national-tobacco-strategy-under-development-lets-block-big-tobacco-interference/