Community and social services

An organisation-wide approach is needed to embed the Ask, Advise, Help (AAH) smoking cessation brief advice model into routine practice. The AAH model outlines how to deliver best practice smoking cessation care and can apply to all health, social service and community settings.

Smoking is one of the major contributors to social disadvantage in Victoria. Compared to the general population, people accessing community and social services are more likely to smoke and find it more difficult to quit. Smoking increases financial stress and influences the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.