Conversations with community service organisations about smoking: what next? The first phase of this project involved wide ranging conversations with community service organisations (CSOs) to understand the current and potential role of CSOs in supporting people to quit smoking. The next 12 months (to July 2023) will put into action some of the ideas we heard in these conversations.
The ideas We heard some excellent and exciting ideas from CSOs, peak bodies and other organisations, including people with lived experience of smoking. The second phase of this project Smoke-free communities: developing a community of practice will focus on what is achievable and sustainable in the project period — see What can we do? on next page.
What you want to see happen in the future CSOs have strong connections with people to support quit smoking conversations and they need …
Easy access • To doctors and health workers, including Aboriginal health workers, nurses, pharmacists • To free, combination nicotine replacement therapy
Sustainable programs • Programs relevant to community needs • Evidence based programs, guides and toolkits • Access to quit smoking support workers • Peer-to-peer learning
• To incentivising quit programs
Looking at the big picture
Support for workforces
• Reducing supply through fewer retailers and increasing the legal age for smoking
• Energised and positive quit smoking educators and training
• Acknowledging tobacco tax consequences
• Strengthening leadership and governance of CSOs to help quit smoking • Focusing on staff health and wellbeing • Supporting improved health literacy for CSOs and individuals
• Thinking about tobacco ‘end game’ strategies
Less talk, more action • Including conversations and programs about quitting smoking in everyday practice • Promoting leadership through boards, management and workplace champions who prioritise smoke-free places and people
www.tascoss.org.au
What can we do?
In the meantime …
In the next 12 months (to July 2023) TasCOSS and Quit Tasmania will explore and develop some of the exciting ideas that we heard during the first phase of the project. We will work with CSOs and other organisations to:
Here are some practical guides for supporting a smoke-free journey:
• Provide governance and leadership support for boards, management and workplace champions to prioritise smoke-free sites and services • Establish a smoke-free community of practice to support quit smoking conversations
How to go smoke-free in your workplace www.health.tas.gov.au/publications/going-smoke-free-yourworkplace-kit
How to develop a smoke-free workplace policy www.quittas.org.au/community/workplaces
• Share practical evidence based programs, “How to” guides, toolkits and other resources for going smoke-free
How to help people on their smoke-free journey
• Deliver quit smoking education and training to CSO staff and clients
Community Service Workers Toolkit: How to help your clients quit for good: www.quittas.org.au/resources-professionals/ community-service-workers-toolkit
• Build a sustainable program to continue creating smoke-free areas and services beyond the time of this project.
After smoking cessation training, I always ask people ‘have you considered quitting smoking?’” — MATES COORDINATOR
Quit: www.quittas.org.au
Visits from Quit every three months would be amazing. The results of having someone physically here and having a conversation with the clients did make a big difference.” — CLINICAL LEAD
Conversations that are normalising the quit smoking program, normalising what we are offering, and normalising our message.” — SMOKING CESSATION WORKER
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