Our lifestyle spotlight

Smoking

Quitline

A core component of initiatives to reduce tobacco smoking prevalence has been evidence-based, client-centred, telephone counselling and coaching.

The Queensland Quitline service is the leading provider of tobacco smoking and vaping cessation support in Queensland. The service sits within Queensland Health and operates seven days a week from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Two service models are provided: single-session information and support, and intensive quit support (for eligible cohorts).

Intensive quit support is available to:

• First Nations Queenslanders
• Pregnant women and their partners
• Parents of children less the 3 years
• Individuals who live in regional, rural and remote areas of Queensland
• Young people less than 30 years.

Intensive quit support combines multiple support and counselling calls with a free 12-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The provision of the free NRT is unique to the Queensland Quitline service.

The Queensland Quitline service provides over 10,000 single support and information sessions and up to 6,700 intensive quit support programs annually. All Quitline staff (which includes a dedicated team of First Nations staff) are highly trained and client focused.

People from all areas in Queensland contact Quitline daily, either by calling directly on 13 78 48 or via referral from a health or community professional. All calls to Quitline are confidential.

Between 2020 and 2024, the Queensland Quitline service received more than 37,000 referrals for quit support.

Quitline clients that complete an intensive quit support program are six times more likely to remain quit at 6-months post program completed compared to those who quit unassisted.

See QuitHQ for more information.

Electronic cigarettes

Reducing vaping among young people

Reducing the prevalence of vaping among young people 12 to 30 years is a priority for the Queensland Government.

The rapid increase in the prevalence of young people vaping is a significant public health concern. Nicotine exposure during adolescence and early adulthood can interfere with brain development, which continues until age 25, impacting learning, memory, attention, and can be associated with increased risk of future addiction to other drugs.¹

In 2023, the Queensland Legislative Assembly held an inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland. This inquiry made several recommendations to increase access to cessation support services for young people.²

In response, the Queensland Quitline expanded service access in January 2024 to allow individuals younger than 30 to participate in an intensive quit support program.

This program is available to people who vape and/or use tobacco products, and combines evidenced-based quit counselling with the provision of a free 12-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches, gum and lozenges.

To access this program, young people can call Quitline on 13 78 48 (7 days a week) or request a call from Quitline via the QuitHQ.

Dual use terminology

For the purposes of this report, the terms used for dual use categories are defined as follows:

• Regular use of tobacco or e-cigarettes means current use at least once a week, including daily.
• Occasional use of tobacco or e-cigarettes means current use less than once a week, and captures intermittent and irregular smoking and vaping in the previous 12 months.
• Exclusive use of tobacco or e-cigarettes means current regular or occasional use of tobacco only or e-cigarettes only in the previous 12 months.
• Dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes is conservatively defined as regular use of both tobacco and e-cigarettes—that is, tobacco is currently used at least once a week and e-cigarettes are currently used at least once a week.

Pathways to Cessation

Supporting adolescents 12 to 17 years to quit vaping and tobacco smoking requires a collaborative effort. In 2024, Queensland Health and Education Queensland trialled the ‘Pathways to Cessation’ pilot program in 32 Queensland state secondary schools.

This program combined:

• The delivery of the ‘Meaningful Conversation’ program of training in evidenced-based, best-practice conversations with students about quitting vaping and tobacco smoking to nominated school staff, including school-based youth health nurses
• Access to the Queensland Quitline intensive quit support program for students 12 years or older*, family members of students enrolled in the participating pilot schools, and Education Queensland staff
• Information webinars for parents of students in participating schools
• Promotional and information resources and materials.

The ‘Meaningful Conversation’ training was delivered in September 2024, with over 125 staff participating. An evaluation of the program is being undertaken by an external organisation and will assess the efficacy of expanding the program to all state secondary schools and non-government secondary schools.

* Nicotine replacement therapy provided by Quitline can used by young adolescents at a lower dose with approval from a GP or parent.

Weight

Making Healthy Happen 2023

Making Healthy Happen 2032: A strategy for preventing obesity in Queensland is Queensland’s strategy to prevent, reduce and treat obesity and its contributing factors.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland is committed to reducing the risk factors that contribute to obesity, including poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and health inequities.

By working in partnership with other Queensland Government departments, industry and the community, Health and Wellbeing Queensland is working to safeguard our health system and support better health outcomes for all Queenslanders.

The Making Healthy Happen 2032 strategy includes an action plan that focuses on:

• Supporting national reform initiatives to make processed food and drinks healthier
• Establishing healthy food and drink strategies in healthcare, schools, sport and recreational facilities, and workplaces
• Delivering targeted family, youth and school-based activities to promote a positive food culture and support the development of healthy habits
• Helping Queenslanders learn more about staying healthy through continuous, evidence-based behaviour change campaigns
• Implementing a simplified process for referral to prevention programs and resources.

Diet

Pick of the Crop

Pick of the Crop is a whole school healthy eating initiative developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland to promote a positive food culture and increase opportunities for Queensland primary school students to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit. Pick of the Crop was developed to tackle the ongoing low intake of vegetables among children.

Schools design a Pick of the Crop action plan focused on their needs and environments based on five key components:

• Building connections with local growers and producers.
• Increasing opportunities for students to eat vegetables and fruit at school.
• Incorporating messages into teaching and learning.
• Creating healthier school environments, including school gardens.
• Connecting with families and communities.

Schools receive up to $7,000 in grant funding and support from regional coordinators to implement their action plans.

Since its launch in 2020, Pick of the Crop has expanded to 206 schools across Far North Queensland, North Queensland, North Coast, Darling Downs, South West, Metropolitan South and South East education regions. Independent evaluations by the Institute for Social Science Research–University of Queensland and feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with principals, teachers, parents and communities stating Pick of the Crop inspires kids to eat more vegetables and fruit.

Pick of the Crop continues to be expanded across Queensland state primary schools.

A Better Choice Healthcare

The A Better Choice (ABC) Healthcare initiative makes it easier for staff and visitors at Queensland’s Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) to choose healthier food and drinks.

ABC Healthcare ensures that healthier food and drinks are prominently placed, promoted, and competitively priced so they are the easiest and most obvious choice. Availability of less healthy food and drinks is also reduced and limitations placed on their promotion.

ABC Healthcare is already showing improved access to healthier food and drinks in HHS facilities. In 2023:

• 59% of food outlets and vending machines across Queensland HHSs met the food and drink targets–up from 48% in 2022
• 94% of vending machines met the targets for a minimum of 50% of drink options to be from the healthiest category—up from 73% in 2022
• 94% of vending machines did not contain any high sugar drinks
• 81% of all HHS facilities now have freely available water.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland leads ABC Healthcare and supports the Health Service Directive - Healthier food and drinks at healthcare facilities which requires HHSs to provide and promote healthier food and drinks across their healthcare facility’s food and drinks retailers. ABC Healthcare is based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and applies a traffic light system to classify food and drinks and help HHSs meet targets set by the directive.

Alcohol

Harm minimisation and reduction strategies and plans

The National Alcohol Strategy 2018–2028 is a national framework to prevent and minimise alcohol-related harms among individuals, families and communities.

Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022-2027 puts into action the nationally agreed harm minimisation policy framework that aims to reduce demand, supply and harms from the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. The strategic priorities of this plan reflect the important contribution a wide range of agencies across sectors, communities, families and individuals make to achieve better outcomes.

Better Care Together is a plan for Queensland’s state funded mental health alcohol and other drug services to 2027 that supports the delivery of specialist alcohol and drug treatment and harm reduction services across Queensland.

Physical activity

Podsquad

Podsquad is a free, play-based wellbeing program that encourages children to stay active and form healthy habits early in life. Aimed at children of primary school age, Podsquad focuses on making physical activity fun and achievable, promoting movement through interactive challenges and engaging characters that teach kids the benefits of daily physical activity.

The Podsquad app and website includes a mix of stories, games, quizzes, and quests. The quests include activity challenges that motivate kids to get moving, from skipping and dancing to running and stretching. Children can set goals, track their activity progress and join family or classroom challenges. Podsquad also provides resources for parents and teachers to promote physical activity, creating supportive environments for kids to play and move more.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland developed Podsquad in partnership with The University of Queensland and more than 300 Queensland families, as part of its commitment to addressing physical inactivity and preventing childhood obesity. By encouraging children to be active every day, Podsquad helps lay the foundation for lifelong health and contributes to Queensland’s vision of a healthier, more active community.

GenQ Community Grants

The Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) GenQ Community Grants Program is focused on helping Queenslanders lead healthier, more active lives. With a particular emphasis on children and youth, the grants program has supported community-led initiatives across Queensland to improve health and wellbeing within the community.

Physical activity is central to HWQld’s approach to preventing obesity and reducing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. As part of this, HWQld’s grants program supports community-based initiatives that help Queenslanders to “move more” in ways that are accessible and enjoyable. HWQld recognises the importance of creating environments that empower people to get moving—whether through active commuting, access to outdoor fitness facilities and green spaces, school sports, or workplace wellness programs—to embed daily physical activity into everyday life.

The GenQ Community Grants Program supports local projects that break down barriers for children and youth to increase movement. Through recreational and creative movement programs, to accessible exercise spaces in rural areas, HWQld’s grants are helping to create a culture of health and physical activity across Queensland. These local initiatives not only promote individual health but also foster social connections, enhance community cohesion, and improve overall wellbeing in communities throughout Queensland.

Sun safety

Investing in skin cancer prevention

The Queensland Government has invested $8.4 million in skin cancer prevention and early detection over four years from July 2022 to June 2026. Advice from a panel of experts emphasised prevention, and the resulting project has three separate but interconnected elements.

Element one is a social marketing strategy that includes winter and summer sun safety campaigns focused on young people 18 to 34 years. The campaigns emphasise the importance of sun safety and received high ratings from the target audience. Sponsorships magnified the messaging and supporting communication aim to normalise sun-safe behaviours.

Element two is skin cancer early detection clinics in communities without access to a GP with skin cancer expertise. In the first full year of operation, 62 clinics were provided in 17 communities. In total, 1,325 people received a whole-body skin check with 263 cancers detected and treated, including 12 melanomas.

Element three aims to develop community leadership for sun safety, policy and shade creation. In Rockhampton, a health promotion professional was funded to drive local engagement. By developing relationships with local governments, Livingstone Shire Council and Gladstone Regional Council have supported youth-led sun safety events. Another achievement was Beef Australia’s support for the week-long Beef2024 to be sun-safe. Lastly, a grant of $5,000 was awarded to 16 rural and remote local governments to boost their sun safety leadership.

Improving natural and built shade infrastructure

Improving the quality and quantity of built and natural shade infrastructure significantly reduces Queenslanders’ UV exposure and future skin cancer risk, especially in high use and long stay public areas such as:

• playgrounds
• public transport waiting areas
• active travel routes
• schools.

The significant outdoor event facilities anticipated for the 2032 Olympic Games provides an opportunity to increase natural and built shade infrastructure, contributing to long-term community health benefits.

Queensland Health recently developed resources to maximise tree shade and minimise UV exposure in our urban environments:

• Healthy Places, Healthy People shade tree guidance
• CanopyCast Pro web tool.

Local government and industry designers and planners can use the CanopyCast Pro tool to design and test shade provision and reductions in UV exposure that can be achieved by planting different tree species, sizes and spacing intervals. Designs can be tested throughout different times of day across any Queensland location, and results are downloadable for reporting and mapping.

Based on the latest evidence, outputs from the tool can be used in cities and regional settings to effectively deliver shade tree targets in line with built environment policy and plans. These guidance resources strengthen the rationale to prioritise high quality shade provision, specifically for preventative health, and will result in purposeful planting that supports greener, cooler and more resilient urban environments.

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Illicit drugs

Queensland policy and support service plans to address illicit drug use

Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022-2027 puts into action the nationally agreed harm minimisation policy framework that aims to reduce demand, supply and harms from the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. The strategic priorities of this plan reflect important contributions from individuals, families, communities, and a wide range of agencies across sectors, to achieve better outcomes.

Better Care Together: A plan for Queensland’s state funded mental health alcohol and other drug services to 2027 supports the delivery of specialist alcohol and drug treatment and harm reduction services across Queensland.

Unintentional overdose deaths

Unintentional overdose due to drugs or alcohol (Accidental poisoning: drug/alcohol section (ICD-10 codes F10-F16, F19, F55 and X40-X45)) is a leading cause of death among Australians 20 to 49 years. In 2022, 1,878 Australians lost their lives due to unintentional drug overdose, of which 321 were Queenslanders. The number of deaths due to unintentional drug overdose in Australia doubled from 2002 to 2022, while in Queensland it has increased by 2.4 times in the same period.¹

Since 2002, opioids have consistently been the most common drug type involved with overdose death, followed by benzodiazepines. In 2022, 49.3% (926 deaths) of unintentional overdose deaths involved opioids and 31.8% (597 deaths) involved benzodiazepines. Most unintentional overdose deaths involving opioids in males were due to heroin (50.2%) while for women pharmaceutical opioids were more common (60.5%).¹

More than 70% of overdose deaths involved two or more drugs; of these, 80.4% involved opioids and 65.0% involved benzodiazepines. Most unintentional deaths involving multiple drug types were observed in older age groups (40 years and older). There were sex differences within age groups, with higher percentages of women in the older age groups affected compared to men. In contrast, among people 0 to 19 years, a higher percentage of males (74.6%) died from unintentional overdoses involving multiple drugs compared to females (40%).¹

Spotlight Figure 1: Deaths due to unintentional drug overdose by jurisdiction

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Cancer screening

Cancer screening programs

BreastScreen Queensland

BreastScreen Queensland is part of BreastScreen Australia which is a joint initiative of the Australian and state and territory governments. Established in 1991, the program aims to reduce illness and death from breast cancer by detecting the disease early. Females 40 years and over can have a free mammogram every two years and females 50 to 74 years are actively invited to screen.

Screening mammograms are used to find breast cancers early, before they can be seen or felt. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances of surviving it.

The National Cervical Screening Program

The National Cervical Screening Program began in 1991 and contributes to the reduction of illness and death from cervical cancer. A more recent advance is understanding that cervical cancer is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), with vaccination now a preventative measure.

Females 25 to 74 years are invited by the National Cancer Screening Register every five years to have a cervical screening test through their preferred healthcare provider.

You are eligible for a Cervical Screening Test if you are:

• between 25 and 74 years old
• are or have ever been sexually active
• have a cervix.

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) began in 2006 and aims to reduce deaths from bowel cancer by detecting early signs of the disease. If found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. Eligible Australians 45 to 74 years can do a free test at home every two years.

Lung cancer screening program

The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is a new national screening program using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people. Screening for eligible people will commence from 1 July 2025.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must be 50 to 70 years, show no signs or symptoms of lung cancer and be a current smoker with a 30-pack per year history or have quit in the last 10 years with a 30-pack per year history. A referral from a GP is required for program entry.

The implementation of the NLCSP is nationally funded and jointly led by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Cancer Australia in liaison with states and territories and other key stakeholders.

For more information visit National Lung Cancer Screening Program.

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