Helping you to quit

For help to quit smoking or vaping, call the Quitline on 13 7848 or to request a Quitline Counsellors to call you back, fill in your details.

If a person is non-English speaking they can ask for an interpreter. There is also a Quitline for Aboriginal people, run by Aboriginal Counsellors.

This website will take you through the steps of how to try to quit smoking and offers a supportive community to help you on your way. Visit ICanQuit https://www.icanquit.com.au/

A free app that includes tips and distractions to help you quit smoking, helps you set your own goals and shows how much money you’ve saved, plus much more. To find out more visit My Quit Buddy https://beta.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/my-quitbuddy-app

Going cold turkey when trying to quit doesn’t work for everyone. Quit smoking medications or nicotine replacement products such as gum, patches, lozenges, spray and inhalers can help you manage you cravings while you are trying to quit. Talk to the Quitline or your doctor about how best to use them.

Pave is a digital tool to help you become vape-free. Pave will offer you daily opportunities to learn and grow as you’re guided on the best ways to give up the vapes.

Pave is an Australian app supporting young people while they quit vaping. Always free and ad-free.

Robert smoked for most of his life. “I smoked for 41 years… it was just part of my life.” Although he knew the impact on his health, he wasn’t ready to stop. Then, he had a health scare. “I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was suffocating. I went by ambulance to ED, that’s when I found out I had emphysema.” Even then, change didn’t come straight away. “When I went home, I kept smoking.”

Years later, something shifted. “It took until I was 51 years old to feel like I actually wanted to quit.” Seeing others succeed played helped to shift his mindset. “I felt inspired by a friend at Flourish who had quit.”

Around the same time, a Health Promotion Officer visited Flourish and shared information about smoking, vaping and quitting support. This helped build Robert’s understanding and confidence to try quitting. He decided to give nicotine replacement therapy a try. “I had never tried NRT before. I tried patches and lozenges.” He also accepted a referral to Quitline, which became a key source of ongoing encouragement. “They rang me and they were really encouraging and it motivated me to keep going. I wasn’t alone in the journey.”

When Robert made the decision to quit, his mindset was different. “Once I quit, I decided I wouldn’t let myself think about smoking.” His journey wasn’t without challenges. “There were times I thought about buying a pack of smokes. But I said… ‘I will not!’. I was determined.”

Nicotine replacement therapy helped him manage cravings. “I used the patches and lozenges for 12 weeks. They worked for me.” “I stopped using patches and I’m working on slowly reducing the number of lozenges I have each day. It’s part of my journey. But I know it’s still better than smoking.”

Today, Robert reflects with pride. “I quit 12 months, 2 weeks and 3 days ago and I’ll never go back.” The benefits have been significant. “I feel healthier. My breathing is better,” and he also reports improved mental health: “I’m happier. More relaxed and less anxious.” He has even been able to reduce his medication and feels he has “a clearer and happier mind.”

Beyond health, quitting has brought emotional and practical gains. “I feel satisfied. There’s a real sense of achievement.” He has used the money saved to reward himself. “I’ve bought new clothes and shoes too and I still had money left over.” He also values the freedom of quitting. “I don’t need to worry about how many cigarettes I’ve got left.”

Reflecting on his journey, Robert is clear: “I’ve learned that I’m happier without smoking. I never thought I could do it, but I did!”