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The Get Informed. Feel Empowered. campaign is our annual community health promotion campaign led by our Youth Advisory Group volunteers. It shares evidence on the health effects of tobacco smoking and vaping and information on the tools, services and resources available to help young people and their communities unsubscribe from nicotine.
Let’s be honest – talking about smoking and vaping with your friends can feel awkward. But these conversations are important. By raising awareness about the harms of tobacco smoking, vaping and nicotine, you’re helping your friends to be healthy and safe. Whether you’re encouraging someone to quit, cut back, or just sharing what you know, we’ve got tips to help you feel confident to have the conversations.
It’s time to Get Informed. Feel Empowered.
Before you start a conversation, it’s important to Get Informed. Feel Empowered. Make sure you understand the facts about smoking, vaping and nicotine. You’ll also want to know about resources and support services that can help someone quit or cut back. Reliable sources like government health websites or local organisations are a great place to begin.
Here are some resources to check out:
Timing matters. Pick a relaxed and private moment when your friend feels comfortable and open to chatting. Maybe it’s while you’re walking together, kicking a footy, or doing something else you both enjoy. Avoid times when they’re stressed or distracted.
If someone you know smokes or vapes, try to understand where they’re coming from instead of judging them. Acknowledge that quitting or cutting back can be tough and let them know you’re there to support them. A little empathy goes a long way.
People tune out when they feel scared or judged. Instead, share factual information about how smoking, vaping and nicotine can affect physical health, mental well-being, and finances. Here’s what you can say:
Physical Health:
Mental Health: nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms, increase the risk of depression and raise stress levels
Finances: nicotine can lead to ongoing expenses. Someone smoking half a pack of cigarettes daily spends about $6300 on cigarettes a year!
One of the best ways to support your peers is by being ready to share information about local or online nicotine cessation services. Knowing where to get help can make quitting, cutting back, or finding support feel less overwhelming.
13 78 48
Quitline offers free counselling services along with tools and resources to support you through your cutting back/quit journey. Aboriginal Quitline counsellors are available, just ask when you call. Professional support is also available in languages other than English.
My QuitBuddy is an app that helps you get, and stay, smoke free. It's with you through the hardest times with helpful tips and distractions to overcome cravings; tracking systems to chart your progress and all the facts you need to understand the impact smoking has on your health.
Join an online community with helpful tips to overcome cravings, reduce risk and to read the experiences and success stories of others.
A vaping cessation support app, specifically for young people, to help you become vape-free. Provides daily guided learning on how to quit or cut back on vaping.
Do you have a tip you’d like to share? Join the convo here by adding a tip that you will try when talking with your peers about smoking and/or vaping?
Just by contributing a tip you could go in the draw to win a $100 gift voucher (T&Cs apply).
Check out the live responses below.
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Flip through or download the guide to learn some more facts about tobacco smoking and vaping, where to seek support if you want to quit or cut back and tips for starting these conversations with your peers.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help on your quitting journey. Take one day at a time.”
“It may be hard to know where to start when looking to cut down or quit smoking and vaping. Start off by exploring the website, ‘icanquit.com.au’ or contacting the NSW Quitline on 13 78 48.”
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Take our Get Informed. Feel Empowered. quiz and increase your knowledge about the effects of smoking and vaping.
Take the quiz nowDownload the Competition Terms & Conditions for our Get Informed. Feel Empowered. tip activity on our Disclaimer page.
Interested in learning about our Youth Advisory Group (YAG), the volunteers behind this campaign?
Find out moreNeed some help but not sure where to turn? We can help. Connect with us or visit the Find Support Now page.
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