This year two iconic Australian names partnered; the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Cancer Council, joining forces to help people in the bush quit smoking and reduce their cancer risk. 

2023 was a big year in terms of eliminating the temptation to start smoking. Governments introduced several pieces of legislation aiming to discourage smoking and eliminate the threat of the vaping wave that has overtaken Australia. 

For people who already smoke, however, more than legislation is required. 

The collaboration saw the two organisations partner to deliver Cancer Council’s ‘Tackling Tobacco’ in hubs Cobar, Lightning Ridge, Dubbo, Broken Hill, and surrounding towns. 

"Tobacco is one of the main drugs of choice we see come through our door. People find it hard to give up, and many aren't able to find the right support," RDDS Operations Manager in Broken Hill Kayelene Crossing said. 

Throughout the year, RFDS provided training to almost all Alcohol and other Drug and Mental Health staff in those towns, which included providing advice on how to quit smoking, correct use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and support available to help clients stay quit. 

“The staff really supported the program and have started delivering Tackling Tobacco out in the remote communities,” Ms Crossing said. 

New programs are delivering results to help break the smoking habit.

Funds delivered by the Cancer Council saw 270 ‘quit kits’ delivered in the four hubs and across the RFDS South Eastern footprint. 

For outer regional and remote areas, taking up smoking is more common, and quitting is less so, with 16.3 per cent of the population being daily smokers, more than double the rate in major cities. 

A focus on assisting Aboriginal communities has also become a key part of determining where the quitting hubs are, with 21.8 per cent of Aboriginal people being daily smokers, compared to 7.7 per cent of non-Aboriginal people. 

The RFDS services 30 different remote towns outside of the four hubs, and has capacity to bring NRT with them to ensure everyone has access to smoking cessation support.