August 2020

New Make Smoking History website

After several months of hard work, Make Smoking History is thrilled to launch our new website. It's jam-packed with resources to help people to stop smoking and we have consolidated information for health professionals and community and health services staff who want to help their clients quit. The Am I addicted? quiz, quit savings calculator and interactive smokers body have all been revamped and the website is easier to navigate and mobile-friendly.

Visit makesmokinghistory.org.au

Australia's smoking rates

New data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019 has shown smoking rates in Australia have fallen to a historic low of 11 per cent.

Read the report

Review of tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Released in June, the Review of tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples shows tobacco use is declining, with self-determination and leadership critical to reducing smoking rates within this population. The review is accompanied by a summary, a fact sheet of key findings and a video of the key findings.

Who sells tobacco, who stops? A comparison across different tobacco retailing schemes

A recent study has examined patterns of tobacco retailing in Australia and how factors including outlet type, perceived importance of tobacco sales and competitor proximity can influence retailers decision to sell tobacco. Read more.

Time to talk about phasing out sale of tobacco products

With smoking still the leading cause of preventable death in Australia, Maurice Swanson (Chief Executive of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health) says it's time to start talking about phasing out the commercial sale of tobacco products. Read the full opinion piece.

Staff member Gemma Smith from Homeless Healthcare

Hotels With Heart project update

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cancer Council WA provided $5000 worth of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to assist people experiencing homelessness, who were VIP guests at Pan Pacific Perth. The initiative, in conjunction with Homeless Healthcare and the Hotels With Heart pilot project, ensured guests were receiving support to reduce and quit smoking during the unprecedented and challenging time.

Earlier this month, we checked in with Barry who was a guest at the Pan Pacific and accessed NRT to reduce his smoking. He has recently moved into a unit and is regularly checking in with the staff at Homeless Healthcare in an effort to quit for good. Read more about Barry's story.

Free online training courses for WA users

Make Smoking History offers a variety of online training courses which are available for people working in different community and health settings.

‍Tailored training courses are available for people working in:

Alcohol and other drug services
Community and social services
Health services
Dental health services

The brief advice smoking cessation online courses will help staff initiate conversations about smoking, using the 3-step model (Ask, Advise, Help), as a regular part of their interactions with clients or patients.

The training will increase staff knowledge of best practice tobacco dependence treatment, and what services and resources are available to support clients or patients to reduce and quit smoking.

Everyone who works directly with clients or patients will benefit from this training.

Visit the Make Smoking History website for more information and to register.

Subscribe here!

Make Smoking History produces three different communications throughout the year:

Tobacco Toolbox - this includes tobacco control news, reports and resources.
Campaign Update - learn more about upcoming mass media campaigns.
Make Smoking History For Everyone e-news - this includes updates for the community and health services sector.

If you would like to subscribe to one or more, email MakeSmokingHistory@cancerwa.asn.au.