Quitline (13 7848)
The Quitline (13 7848) is a free, confidential phone service to help people quit smoking. Engaging with Quitline greatly increases your chance of stopping smoking. Most people find the service really helpful, with 92% of callers saying they would recommend the service to family and friends.
Calls are provided by trained, supportive counsellors who are experts in helping people to quit smoking. The Quitline is available Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm. You can:
- call on 13 7848 (for the cost of the call)
- request a call back via the website (completely free)
- contact Quitline via the webchat at the bottom of this page (completely free)
- text ‘call back’ to 13 7848 (cost of a text).
Health professionals can complete an online referral form.
Quitline counsellors are great listeners and, once they know a bit about your situation, they can help you work out how to plan, make and keep at quitting in a way that suits you.
Typically, a first call takes between 20 and 25 minutes. To give you the best advice, the counsellor will probably ask about your smoking history, your motivation to quit and the role smoking plays in your life.
Counsellors are guided by you and your needs, but they can:
- help you design a quit plan
- offer tips and strategies that are specific to your situation
- help you understand and build your motivation
- provide general information on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or prescribed stop smoking tablets (speak to your doctor or pharmacist to see whether a stop smoking medication would be suitable for you)
- discuss what has or hasn’t worked in the past, and help you recognise how those past experiences can be used to try again
- explore stresses in your life – both smoking-related and other stresses
- send you a resource pack or a stop smoking brochure.
But you don’t have to be ready to commit to quitting smoking to phone the Quitline – you might just have a quick query to help you with your quitting plans down the track, and that is fine too.
Quitline counsellors understand having a go at quitting smoking can be a big deal, and that most people will try quitting several times – or even many times – before they successfully quit. They won’t judge you or have any expectation about what you decide to do and there’s never any pressure.
Quitline counsellors have spoken to thousands of people trying to quit; they know that quitting is a journey and that practice makes perfect.
Quitline counsellors also welcome calls from family members or loved ones looking for advice to help a smoker.
If you want to speak to an Aboriginal Quitline counsellor, the Aboriginal Quitline is also available.
The Quitline is also proud to provide an inclusive, respectful service for members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Quitline will be there for you when you are ready to just have a chat or to have a go at quitting.