By VANESSA VALENZUELA
SMOKERS struggling to kick the habit are invited to take part in a free quit smoking course in Brimbank next month.
Council Neighbourhood Houses have joined up with ISIS Primary Care to offer three Fresh Start quit courses to residents who want to quit, cut down or manage their smoking.
The courses will cover the most effective methods for giving up smoking, relaxation techniques and coping with peer pressure.
Each session is run by educators who have been trained and accredited by Quit Victoria.
Brimbank Council’s chair of administrators John Watson said more than 12 per cent of all deaths in Brimbank are related to smoking, which is higher than the state average.
“The courses are not just for those individuals who have made the decision to give up,” Mr Watson said.
“They can also be helpful for friends and relatives of people going through the process. We know that giving up smoking affects different people in different ways, and sometimes the people around us also need to be given a few pointers to help the process.
Mr Watson said Brimbank council would like to see the figures of smoking-related deaths drop dramatically.
“These courses are also a great resource for people who will find themselves supporting someone who quits,” he said.
The Fresh Start courses will run for two hours a week over a period of six weeks starting at the Delahey Community Centre on 11 February and Cairnlea Community Hub on 20 February.
Admission is free but a Quit book can be purchased as part of the course for $11.
For more information about any of the three courses contact Cairnlea Community Hub on 9363 4800 or Delahey Community Centre on 9249 4900.
