Quitline

What happens when you call the Quitline?

The Quitline 13 QUIT (13 7848) is a confidential telephone based service designed to help smokers quit smoking and is funded by the Cancer Institute NSW. The staff can also provide assistance to the family and friends of smokers and others requesting information about smoking.

By calling the Quitline you can: be sent a free Quit Kit, take advantage of talking to specially trained Quitline telephone counselors and take part in our callback and follow-up service. By calling the Quitline 13 QUIT you are taking the best step available to help you succeed in quitting for good.

When you first call you will be offered a Quit Kit and the opportunity to speak with a Quitline advisor. The advisors are specialists who have been trained in health, education, psychology and smoking cessation. They know the health effects of smoking, understand the quitting process and are aware of the difficulties many smokers face in quitting. They are friendly, helpful, non-judgmental and able to assist you at whatever stage you are at in the quitting process.

The advisors can give you advice about quitting smoking, help you assess your level of nicotine dependence, provide strategies on preparing to quit, preventing relapse and staying a non-smoker as well as provide information on products and services to help you quit.

A callback service is available for smokers who would like further help with their efforts to quit smoking. Up to six follow-up phone calls can be scheduled throughout the most difficult period of quitting. This service has proven to be very popular as it can help to keep you motivated and on track. Once you have nominated a Quit date, a Quitline advisor can call you on the following days to help you through the process of quitting:

• the day before your Quit date
• within the first two days after your Quit date
• within the first week of your Quit date
• twice within the following three weeks

The callback service can be tailored to meet your individual needs. You elect how many callback phone calls you wish to receive. You will be offered a follow-up call three months after your Quit date just to check on your progress. Remember even if you have nominated to participate in the callback service, you are always welcome to ring the Quitline 13 QUIT and talk to an advisor at any time.

The Quitline 13 QUIT is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every single day of the year to receive a free Quit Kit.

The Quitline 13 QUIT advisory and information service operates seven days a week during the following hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00am-11:00pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 9:00am-5:00pm

If you wish to speak to an advisor but call outside the hours of the advisory and information service, you can leave your contact details and a Quitline counsellor will return your call the next day.

The Quitline 13 QUIT is sponsored by the Cancer Institute NSW.