Help on Hand to Quit

May 2011

Advice and support to become smokefree is now available for people visiting Manukau’s Community Link office.

Todd Bell is the new smokefree community advisor, adding smokefree support to the range of services provided at the Osterley Way office for the first time.

The full-time role is funded through the Counties Manukau District Health Board’s Creating a Better Future strategy and in partnership with Te Hononga O Tamaki Me Hoturoa and Work and Income New Zealand.

Every person visiting the office will be asked by staff if they are smokefree or whether they have considered it, and made aware of Todd being onsite.

“My role is really to then bring support to the community, to provide that opportunity for people to access the support they require to have a smokefree attempt,” says Todd, who has previously worked in health promotion and social services.

Having help on hand is becoming increasingly important for people who are looking to become smokefree, especially with the recent tax increases on tobacco which have made smoking more expensive.

CMDHB Smokefree programme manager Ingrid Minett says many people could benefit from the new initiative.

“Asking people about their smoking status while they are at the Community Link office is a great way of opening the door to smokefree support for people who might really need it. We are thrilled to have Todd onboard in this role as we continue to build supportive smokefree environments in Counties Manukau,” she says.

Todd is looking forward to building relationships with people through face-to-face discussions, phone calls and home visits. Having received smokefree training, he is now a Quit Card provider and will also have some Nicotine Replacement Therapy available.

Colleagues and friends of Todd have already shown interest in becoming smokefree with his support.

“There’s more likely to be a successful attempt at becoming smokefree if people are supported, especially over the initial three months which is the most challenging part. I hope to provide positive and proactive support,” he says.

Todd also has personal reasons for his interest in the role. Family members have suffered lung cancer, heart disease and death because of tobacco use, and he wants to be part of building a better future.

The father of five says: “I have a belief in our future. I aspire to help create a future where my children and the community have the opportunity to be healthy and strong. This is a new chapter for me and it’s quite a special job to think that I will be involved in supporting those outcomes for all people.”

Todd will be available at the office during business hours on weekdays.