Smoking – Quit services for Aboriginal communities

While the smoking rate in Australian Aboriginal communities is decreasing, it is still almost 3 times the national average. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and illness in Aboriginal communities.

Culturally sensitive Quit services are available to help you stop smoking. So if you are thinking about quitting, are ready to quit, or are still not sure, call the Aboriginal Quitline to have a yarn with an Aboriginal Quitline Counsellor.

Aboriginal Quit services

Aboriginal Quit services offered by Quit Victoria include:

• Aboriginal Quitline (Tel. 13 78 48) – this is a culturally safe space for callers to have a yarn about smoking and quitting with an Aboriginal Quitline Counsellor. This service is available from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Information and professional support for health workers – health workers can find more information on the ‘Aboriginal Communities’ page of the Quit website. The Aboriginal Quitline Facebook page has quitting motivation and information to share with the community.

Other Quit services

Other Quit services offered by Quit Victoria include:

• QuitTxt – an SMS service that sends you several messages each day to help you prepare to quit, work through the process of quitting, and stay on track after you quit.
• QuitCoach – helps you to make a quitting plan and gives ideas and suggestions that will be most useful to you.

Other free mobile Quit services include:

• My QuitBuddy – a mobile app that you can use to help you quit.

Visit Quit or call Tel. 13 78 48 for more information.

Where to get help

• Aboriginal Quitline Tel. 13 78 48
• Quitline Tel. 13 78 48
• Your GP (doctor)
• Your pharmacist
• Community health worker
• Victorian Aboriginal Health ServicesTel. (03) 9419 3000