New integrated media campaign launches to remind Victorians they have ‘So Many Reasons’ to quit

Quitting can be hard, but you’ve got so many reasons to keep trying – that’s the message to all Victorians who smoke or vape as a new Quit campaign rolls out digitally, on radio and in print today across the state.

The campaign’s premise is supported by data from Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer which reveals people’s motivations for quitting smoking [1].

Among Australian adults who currently smoke and have tried to quit:

• 26% identified a ‘major life event or milestone, such as pregnancy or death of loved one’ as a key influence on their decision to quit smoking, making it the 3rd most cited factor overall. The cost of cigarettes and advice from a health professional were the 1st and 2nd leading factors influencing decisions to quit smoking, and
• 22% identified ‘information or advice provided by a family member or friend’ as a key factor influencing their decision to quit smoking, making it the 5th leading factor overall.

Quit Director, Rachael Andersen, acknowledged the importance of recognising the diverse motivators that prompt people to quit, and flagged the whole network of experts committed to helping people along their quitting journey.

“Every week, our dedicated team of Quit staff are working with community members, organisations and governments so that we can become smokefree by 2033. We continue to challenge the tobacco industry, report illicit trade to the authorities, and we’ll never stop supporting individuals to quit. This campaign is a rallying call to remind people that we have their backs when they reach out for support,” Ms Andersen said.  

Tony Young is one person for whom quitting was a destination he had to come to in his own time. Growing up in the UK, Tony saw many family members and friends around him smoking – and soon he was buying cigarettes for himself.  

“I’d spoken about quitting a few times. But I never, deep down, took myself seriously. Then suddenly, I woke up, and that was it. I just said ‘I’m done with this’, and I quit. 

“The hard part for me, was being out with friends… and knowing what to do with my hands because I’d usually have a cigarette between my fingers. I’d pick up my phone a lot … I just got obsessed with ‘Ah, there’s another day quit’,” Mr Young said.  

His advice to others is simple. “Use whatever tools that work for you. And when you’re ready to quit, just absolutely commit to it, 100%.” Watch more of Mr Young’s story here.  

VicHealth Executive Manager, Health Promotion Systems, Michelle Murray, said quitting smoking can have life-changing benefits for individuals, their families and communities.  

“Too many Victorian families lose loved ones to smoking-related illnesses every year. ‘So Many Reasons’ shows the devastating realities of a diagnosis from smoking and serves as a motivator to encourage more people to reach out to Quit for support,” Ms Murray concluded. 

The campaign ‘So Many Reasons’ is a rework of a Cancer Council WA campaign originally named ‘How to Tell You’. It will run from 20 October – 30 November 2025 in Victoria across digital and online channels, regional print outlets and radio, including translations into nine key languages.  

To view the campaign:

'So Many Reasons' - Talk with Mate - 15 seconds

ENDS

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