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How Quitline can help you get back on track

Our expert Quit counsellors can support you to turn your quitting story into a quit-for-good story.

The Quitline is a welcoming, confidential telephone service that can support you during your quit attempt

Our Quit counsellors are trained experts. They can help you to figure out what caused your slip-up or relapse and chat to you about strategies to stop it happening again.

They can chat to you about your motivation to quit. Have your reasons changed? Are they still strong enough to motivate you to stay quit? What's the one reason that really tugs on your heart strings?

People who call the Quitline are more likely to stay quit.

Our Quitline counsellors can help you develop strategies to overcome cravings. They can provide information on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (patches, mouth spray, gum, lozenge, inhalator) or prescribed stop smoking tablets.

Research has shown that the most effective way to quit smoking is to use Quitline plus stop smoking medication. If you choose NRT, combination therapy: patches plus a faster-acting type, such as lozenge, gum or mouth spray, is the most effective. Talk to your health professional about what would be best for you.

Call the Quitline on 13 7848 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or request a callback. You can also ask to speak to an Aboriginal Quitline counsellor. 

What to expect when you call Quitline

Our Quitline counsellors can:

  • Help you set up a plan that is tailored just for you.

  • Listen carefully and offer tips and strategies that suit you. 

  • Help to motivate you by listening carefully to your reasons for quitting smoking. 

  • Provide general information on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (such as patches or gum) or prescribed stop smoking tablets. 

  • Discuss your last quit attempt. Quit counsellors can help you to draw on your experience to make a plan to quit.

  • Post you a quit pack or a quitting brochure.

Common questions about Quitline

  • Who will be on the other end of the line? Our expert Quit counsellors have many years of experience. Quitline counsellors understand that quitting is a complex process and that most people will have a number of goes at quitting before they quit for good. Quitline counsellors are trained to listen carefully.

  • How long can I talk to them for? Many people call Quitline with a quick question, but a typical first call to Quitline takes around 10–20 minutes.

  • What will they want to know? Your call is confidential. This means you don't have to give your name if you don't want to. On a first Quitline call, you’re likely to discuss your smoking history, how many cigarettes you smoke and your typical smoking habits. An essential part of the first Quitline call is to set up a plan for quitting that suits you. Quitline counsellors can give advice about the different quitting methods and products. Quit counsellors are trained to help you to explore your desire to quit and to deepen it. Quitline can also send you a wide range of resources that might be helpful.

  • Do I have to be currently trying to quit to talk to them? Not at all. If you’re currently smoke and are thinking about your options, or a family member looking for advice on how to help a loved one, Quitline is there for you. 

  • Can I speak to the same Quitline counsellor again? Unfortunately due to Quitline counsellors’ working shifts it is difficult for us to pair you with a particular Quitline counsellor. Quitline counsellors all have the same training, and talking to different counsellor provides you with lots of different tips.

  • When is Quitline open?  The Quitline is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday. 

  • Does it cost anything to call? Just the cost of a local call (normal charges apply from a mobile phone). But you can also request a Quitline callback. 

  • How well does Quitline work? Quitline is regularly reviewed for effectiveness. Studies show that Quitline greatly increases your chance of quitting and that callers find Quitline really helpful.  

Give Quitline a call:

  • If you are deaf or have hearing or speech impairment, you can call the National Relay Service (NRS) to access the Quitline.

  • TTY users phone 13 3677 and ask for 13 78 48.

  • Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 13 78 48.

  • Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 13 78 48.

  • More information about the National Relay Service.

Last updated June 2022.

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