The Fresh Start Program

• Fresh Start course - help to quit
• Fresh Start Health Professional Training
• Fresh Start Workplace Services
• Fresh Start Resources

About the Fresh Start Program

Fresh Start is a course for smokers who want to quit but feel they require some support in doing so.  The course was developed by Quit Victoria (a division of The Cancer Council Victoria) and is a nationally recognised and accredited quit smoking program.  Its proven success has resulted in it being adopted by other state cancer organisations and health services.  The Cancer Council Western Australia is licensed by The Cancer Council Victoria to offer Fresh Start in this state. 

The Cancer Council WA conducts courses for smokers, and trains and accredits suitable health and other professionals to deliver courses in their community or workplace.

In WA, the Fresh Start program is funded through course fees and community donations.

The Cancer Council WA's Fresh Start program offers two services:

• Fresh Start quit smoking course for smokers who want help to quit; and
  
• Fresh Start health professional training for those who wish to assist their clients to quit.
  
  

Fresh Start quit smoking course

Designed for smokers who want to kick the habit, the Fresh Start course comprises 8 sessions held over four weeks.

Each session is conducted by a trained group leader and covers strategies to assist you to overcome your smoking addiction.

Fresh Start is not just about telling you to quit, it looks at why you smoke in the first place and helps you develop strategies to reach your goal of becoming a non-smoker.

Next Fresh Start course details

The next Fresh Start course begins on Monday 8 March until Wednesday 31 March 2010.

The 8 course sessions are held on the following dates:

• Monday 08 March
• Thursday 11 March
• Monday 15 March
• Thursday 18 March
• Monday 22 March
• Thursday 25 March
• Monday 29 March
• Wednesday 31 March

Each session starts at 6.00 pm and finishes at 7.30 pm.

The course is held at:

Cancer Council WA
Crawford Lodge
55 Monash Avenue, Nedlands WA 6009

Free parking is available at the venue. See application form (PDF, 100kb) for a map to the venue.

Cost (includes materials and refreshements):
      $100 (including GST)
      $50 concession (including GST)

      NB: Some private health funds provide rebate depending on level of cover.

Registrations close Tuesday 02 March 2010.

To register for the Fresh Start course, complete the application form (PDF, 100kb) and return with payment to:

Coordinator, Fresh Start Program
Cancer Council WA
15 Bedbrook Place
Shenton Park WA 6008

Fax: 9388 4399

For more information contact Amanda Siebert, Coordinator Fresh Start Program on 9388 4307 or email Freshstart@cancerwa.asn.au.

Fresh Start courses in other metropolitan and regional areas

The Cancer Council WA also trains professionals to run the Fresh Start course in their local area.

Contact details of facilitators in other metropolitan and regional locations. (PDF, 30 kb)

Fresh Start Health Professional Training

The aim of the Fresh Start Health Professional Training is to equip health professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide smoking cessation support to smokers who they may deal with in the course of their work, either one-on-one or in the form of group counselling.

There are two training modules available:

• Fresh Start Facilitator Training
• Fresh Start Brief Intervention Training

Fresh Start Facilitator Training

This two day training program covers health information, cessation theory and Fresh Start course content. Training includes practical exercises with reflection and feedback. Resources and handouts are provided. It is essential that participants attend all sessions throughout the training.

The role of an accredited Fresh Start Facilitator

Fresh Start quit smoking courses may only be delivered by trained and accredited facilitators.

The role of an accredited Fresh Start facilitator is to conduct Fresh Start group courses or to provide one-on-one assistance for people wanting to stop smoking.

Fresh Start courses can be conducted for the general community or specific target groups. Trained facilitators are responsible for recruiting participants and organising the course details. The Cancer Council WA organises the required resources to run a course.

Who should train?

Training is designed for professionals wishing to facilitate courses and develop their knowledge of smoking cessation and intervention skills.

The Fresh Start course is a group orientated program. Relevant experience, for example, in an education or health-related setting, is a prerequisite for undertaking the training and previous experience of group teaching methods is recommended.

It is important that applicants share a commitment to the same health promotion goals and values of the Cancer Council WA. Therefore, Fresh Start Facilitators may be either ex-smokers or ‘never smokers’.

Quitting smoking can be difficult and research has shown that most people make a number of attempts before quitting successfully. For this reason, we require that someone who wishes to become a Fresh Start facilitator has not smoked for at least six months, or ideally twelve months: this is the best indicator that the person is a non-smoker and less likely to relapse.

Next course details

• Dates and venue TBA
• 9.00 am to 4.30 pm each day (2 day course)
• Cost: $200 per person (includes lunch both days)

Register your interest in attending a Fresh Start Facilitator Course

Please complete the application form (PDF, 132 kb) and return by mail or fax to:

Coordinator, Fresh Start Program
Cancer Council Western Australia
15 Bedbrook Place
Shenton Park WA 6008

Fax: 9388 4399

For more information

Contact Amanda Siebert, Coordinator Fresh Start Program on 9388 4307 or email Freshstart@cancerwa.asn.au.

NB: Additional fees and charges may apply for block training or if regional travel is required.

Brief Intervention Training

This half day training is designed to provide health professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide brief smoking cessation advice to patients.

NB: Additional fees and charges may apply for block training or if regional travel is required.

Brief Intervention Educator Training

This one day training is designed for health professionals or professional development officers with designated responsibility for training staff in the delivery of brief intervention smoking cessation advice. Relevant experience in education, training and health are required. Once trained, participants can conduct brief intervention courses for other staff.

Cost: $100 per person.

More information and details of the next Brief Intervention Educator course, including application form. (PDF, 130 kb)

NB: Additional fees and charges may apply for block training or if regional travel is required.

Fresh Start Workplace Services

The Cancer Council WA's Fresh Start program can help workplaces offer healthy choices to staff by providing supportive quit smoking courses to assist smokers in their quit attempt.

Fresh Start Workplace Seminar

The one hour seminar provides an overview of the Fresh Start course. This session covers why people smoke, and outlines the benefits of quitting, the different quitting methods and products, strategies to avoid smoking and where to access quit smoking resources and supports.

Cost: $200 per session.

Fresh Start Course

In the workplace the course comprises 8 one hour sessions, conducted over a 4 week period. The sessions are conducted by a trained facilitator and provide smokers with the information, resources and support they need to quit smoking and stay stopped.

Cost: $1300 or $1100 per group, if a course is booked within 3 months of completing a seminar.

Fresh Start Short Course

This course has been designed for regional or remote workplaces where a local Fresh Start facilitator is not available. The course comprises of 2 three hour sessions, held 3 weeks apart, combined with telephone follow-up between each session. The course is a condensed version of the Fresh Start course and is offered as an alternative in cases where time and distance does not allow for delivery of a longer duration course.

Cost: $700 per group.

NB: Additional fees and charges may apply for block training or if regional travel is required.

For more information on Fresh Start training, courses or workplace services please contact the Fresh Start Program at the Cancer Council WA on (08) 9388 4333 or email Freshstart@cancerwa.asn.au.