More support to help Victorians stop smoking
Posted 17 Apr, 2026
People who smoke will have access to more support to help them quit from today, from the Victorian Quitline Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Pilot Program and expanded hours of the Victorian Quitline, to include Saturdays 10am-5pm.
The NRT Pilot is the first-of-its-kind in Victoria and aims to enable more people to quit smoking byproviding free, combination nicotine replacement therapy alongside free, personalised behavioural counselling from Quitline.
The program comes in the wake of new research showing that the cost of NRT products, such as nicotine patches and gum, lozenges or mouth spray, now often exceeds the cost of illicit tobacco. This price discrepancy presents an insurmountable barrier to quitting for many.
The case for provision of low or no-cost NRT is similarly backed by the Victorian community. Life in AustraliaTM public sentiment data1 from December 2025, analysed by Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, shows overwhelming community support, with almost 9 in 10 (87%) Victorian adults supporting provision of cheaper quit smoking medications.
Rachael Andersen, Quit Director, welcomed the funding increase from the Victorian Government to enable the extended hours of Victorian Quitline, saying this increased accessibility to Saturday counselling, plus the free NRT pilot program are designed to reach people most in need.
“We know the majority of people who smoke or vape want to quit. And by giving people the right tools to help them do so – with free NRT products and expanding access to tailored, accessible support from Quitline counsellors – we’re setting up people who want to quit for success. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to people quitting smoking.”
The Quitline NRT Pilot Program has a specific commitment to supporting communities with higher smoking rates who may face barriers to quitting. These include First Nations peoples, those living with a mental health condition, people experiencing substance use disorders, people living in regional and remote areas, young people aged 18-24 years old, LGBTIQA+ and multicultural communities.
“It’s so important we focus on the communities facing the most barriers to quitting – and not let cost be a barrier to stopping smoking or vaping. Presently, smoking kills 2 in 3 lifetime users, or 24,000 Australians every year. We are committed to driving down these numbers and improving the health and future wellbeing of Victorians as a result,” Ms Andersen added.
The pilot program will provide fast acting and slow release (known as combination) NRT products to eligible participants, alongside support from qualified Quitline counsellors who work with individuals at any stage of their quitting journey. Quitline counsellors help build motivation and skills and create a step-by-step plan. They can also support people who are using vapes to stop smoking.
For more information about the Quitline NRT Pilot Program and to find out if you or a loved one is eligible visit: quit.org.au/en/articles/want-extra-support-to-quit. To contact Quit visit quit.org.au or call Quitline 13 7848.
ENDS
References
[1]Participants were recruited from the Social Research Centre's probability-based panel Life in AustraliaTM (Victorian N=1,283). Data were weighted to minimise selection bias and meet population benchmarks. Nuss T, Shi A, Nicholson A, Scollo M, Durkin S, Brennan E. 2025 Public Support for Illicit Tobacco Policy Responses Among Victorian Adults. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria: Melbourne, Australia. February 2026.