framing cessation care for community services

Title: Framing Cessation Care for Community Services Message Guide

Topic: Smoking, Tobacco, Community Services

Published: 2024

Partners: Cancer Council WA

Community service workers are often well placed to support people to quit smoking, but many feel unsure about how to start the conversation or what support they can offer.

The guide is designed for people working in tobacco control, public health, health promotion and community services, particularly those developing communications, campaigns, training or programs aimed at community service organisations.

Its recommendations are informed by research with community service workers across mental health, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs, and financial support services, alongside the Common Cause approach drawing on research from social psychology, cognitive linguistics and applied psychology.

The research identifies practical ways to improve smoking cessation communication. It shows why messages should build workers’ confidence, frame quitting as a self-directed journey, emphasise the strengths and resilience of clients rather than vulnerability or disadvantage, and focus on solutions and the immediate benefits of quitting rather than dwelling on the harms of smoking. These approaches can help avoid defensiveness and make conversations about tobacco use feel more consistent with client-led community service practice.

Alongside these evidence-based messaging principles, the guide provides example language and a practical Vision–Barrier–Action message framework that organisations can adapt across campaigns, resources, training and everyday communications. The aim is to help organisations communicate about quitting smoking and cessation support in ways that strengthen trust, increase confidence and make it easier for community service workers to support clients on their quitting journey.