Smoking Cessation

There are many benefits of quitting smoking and they start straight away. After only a few weeks, your taste and smell improves, coughing reduces and breathing and exercise will be easier.

Instantly, you will be able to save money. If you spend $100 a week on cigarettes then you will save more than $5,000 for each year you don’t smoke. 

Your appearance also benefits from quitting smoking. Your skin will look healthier, your teeth will be whiter and you will have better breath.

Smoking remains a leading cause of death and disability in NSW, accounting for around 5,300 deaths and 46,000 hospitalisations each year. Half of all long-term smokers will die prematurely because they smoked.

Services provided

We provide information, education and support for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.  Our Service can provide a range of information workshops or advice via:

• Client or community workshops
• In-services or education for teams

The service provides:

• Assistance in building the capacity of health professionals to effectively address smoking and nicotine dependence by providing training, education, advice, resources and information
• Advice and information on evidence-based smoking cessation treatments 
• Advice and assistance to local community organisations, business and industry to develop smoke free policies and smoking cessation programs

NSW Quitline

The NSW Quitline is a free and confidential telephone service providing customised assistance to help you with your quit smoking attempt.
Counsellors can:

• Give you information and advice about quitting smoking
• Help you assess your level of nicotine dependence
• Provide strategies on preparing to quit and staying quit
• Provide information on products and services to help you quit
• Encourage and support you in your quit attempts
• Assist you to work with lapses or relapse

Patients can request a NSW Quitline call back or phone NSW Quitline directly on 13 7848 (13 QUIT). If patients are non-English speaking, people can ask for an interpreter. 

• Aboriginal – 13 7848

Aboriginal Quitline

The NSW Quitline for Aboriginal people is available for residents of NSW.  It is a culturally-sensitive, free and confidential telephone service providing customised assistance to help you with your quit smoking attempt. 

How to access

Contact the NSW Quitline on 13 7848.

Quitline is open from Monday to Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm, and Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm.

NSW Quitline for Aboriginal People

You can access the Quitline by calling 13 7848 and asking to speak to an Aboriginal Counsellor.  Quitline Aboriginal Counsellors can give you tips on how to quit smoking, help you develop a quit plan, assist you with managing cravings, and provide information on quit smoking medications and products.

They can also call you back to provide further support and check how your quit smoking journey is progressing.

Illawarra Shoalhaven offers:

• Quit Smoking and Vaping in Pregnancy Service: For more information email ISLHD-QuitSmoking@health.nsw.gov.au.
• Text2Quit: to sign up, text your full name and the word 'QUIT' to 0447 219 513 or email your full name, mobile number and the word 'QUIT' to ISLHD-QuitSmoking@health.nsw.gov.au.
• Quit4Bub: To sign up to the service, text your full name and the word 'BABY' to 0447 219 513.

Resources

• NSW Health – Smoking, your health and quitting
• iCanQuit – Cancer Institute NSW