New digital support empowering Australians to quit their way

A new digital platform is providing Australians who smoke or vape with free information and support to enable them to quit. 

Launching today, the new look national cessation platform at quit.org.au guides users on a personalised information journey using digital insights to identify the state or territory a person lives and whether they smoke or vape. This allows the site to recommend evidence-led content, resources, strategies and interactive digital tools relevant to individual needs. 

Content is aligned to four pathways – Why quit, How to quit, Staying quit and Helping others – each designed to support behaviour change by enabling people to make their own choices on how they will approach quitting.  

Quit Director, Rachael Andersen said the journey to quitting smoking or vaping is different for everyone.   

“No two quitting experiences are the same. Some people quit cold turkey, others take many attempts over years and try different methods along the way,” Ms Andersen said. “This is why quit.org.au has been designed to provide the most relevant information and support for all Australians, whether they smoke, vape or do both. 

“We've known for decades that smoking causes 16 types of cancer, and increasingly we are understanding more about the health harms of vaping. We want to empower people with information and practical tools that allow them to make choices for themselves, suited to their own timeline and in their own way.”  

The Australian Government’s Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is providing $9m over three years to Cancer Council Victoria’s Quit program to research, design and enhance the new digital platform to support the estimated 1.8 million Australians who smoke daily and 1.5 million who currently vape ^[1].  

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, said the Australian Government is committed to protecting Australians from the harms of tobacco, vaping and nicotine addiction.  

“Nicotine is highly addictive and before you know it, what starts as an occasional thing becomes something much more serious. But it’s never too late to quit. The expansion of digital services at quit.org.au  ensures important tools and resources to help you quit are accessible no matter where you live, or when you need them,” said Minister Butler. 

“The expansion of quit.org.au  provides equitable access to information and support for all Australians, including those in regional areas and young people who typically seek information via a digital device,” added Minister Butler.   

Quit.org.au also has three enhanced interactive digital tools – a Cost Calculator, Health Effects tool and My Quit Plan – each designed to be personalised for smoking, vaping or dual use. 

• The Health Effects tool illustrates the impact of smoking or vaping on health by allowing users to select an area on the body to learn more.  

• The enhanced Cost Calculator asks a series of questions so the user can calculate how much their smoking or vaping is costing them, including details of how much they could save by quitting.  

• My Quit Plan guides users on a step-by-step approach to identify their triggers and help them build a digital plan that includes tips, tactics and strategies so that they can choose a way to quit that works for them. It can be stored and revisited each time a person returns to quit.org.au. 

There are also a dedicated sections on the platform for health professionals and people working in community settings, including schools, workplaces, multicultural groups and with First Nations peoples. 

Content has been designed in consultation with an expert advisory group comprising representatives from key health and priority population organisations across Australia. Platform imagery reflects the diversity of Australians along with refreshed Quit branding.   

“If you are worried about the hold that nicotine has over you, remember that help is there. You can visit quit.org.au, call Quitline on 13 7848, talk to a health professional, or download the My QuitBuddy app,” Minister Butler concluded.  

ENDS

Media Contact 
Prue Gildea Quit Media Manager M: 0400 394 274 E: prue.gildea@cancervic.org.au