Fresh Start

Fresh Start is a course for smokers who want to quit but feel they require some support doing so. The course was developed by 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’s Fresh Start program offers two services:
1. Evidence-based group counselling for smokers who want help to quit
2. Training for health professionals who wish to assist their clients to quit smoking.

The Fresh Start Course

Designed for all smokers who want to kick the habit, the Fresh Start course comprises 8 one hour sessions over four weeks. Each session is conducted by a trained group leader and covers strategies to assist people in overcoming their smoking addiction.

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

The cost of the course is $100 per person or $50 for concession. Some of the major health funds also provide a rebate depending on the level of cover. Courses are run regularly throughout the year.

Details of the next Cancer Council Fresh Start course. (PDF, 94 kb)

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

Details of courses run in other metropolitan and regional locations. (PDF, 30 kb)

Fresh Start Health Professional Training

The aim of the 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. There are two training modules available:

Facilitator Training

This is a two day training course designed for health professionals who wish to provide comprehensive cessation services on an ongoing basis either one on one or in the form of group counselling. The training program covers health information, cessation theory and Fresh Start course content.

Cost: $200 per person.

More information and details about the next facilitator training course. (PDF, 132 kb)

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) 9212 4333 or email Freshstart@cancerwa.asn.au.

The Cancer Council WA is licensed by The Cancer Council Victoria to offer Fresh Start in this state. In WA, the Fresh Start program is funded through course fees and community donations.

Fresh Start advertisement