Aboriginal Quitline

Quitline supports all Australians to quit smoking but recognises the different needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Although Quit provides Indigenous Quitline counsellors and specific content on their website, Aboriginal communities wanted a dedicated website to support their specific needs and provide relevant, culturally safe information and support. Working with Aboriginal communities across Victoria, SA, NT, and WA, Quit sought insights to inform the right user experience for the website. The website needed to represent the Indigenous community and communicate key information about quitting smoking and vaping in a way that resonated with them.

Quit sought input from Aboriginal communities and elders in Victoria, SA, NT, and WA, which was incorporated into the user experience vision. The solution needed to address how the website looked, content tone of voice, and ensure it was easy to use on mobile devices. The website features elements from an artwork with permission from the artist Dixon Patten - Yorta Yorta and Gunnai. During the user experience phase, the community and Dixon were engaged to ensure that the usage of the artwork was consistent with the original artwork’s intent and that the design approach and content spoke to the community.

Quit listened to Aboriginal communities and understood the need for a website that spoke directly to their community. The website provides support and access to free, culturally focused content and counselling, empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to quit smoking and vaping. It’s a safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on their quitting journey and communicates key health information in a way that is relevant and easy to understand. Indigenous health and support workers can use the website to refer patients and access relevant guidelines and resources to support their communities in quitting smoking and vaping.

An important part of the process for the user experience and design of this website was to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at every stage. With permission, elements and colours of Dixon Patten’s artwork were defined and provided as a brand guideline by Dreamtime Art Creative Consultancy to be used in combination with Quit’s brand for the website. The design needed to feel distinctly Aboriginal, but was still required to visually communicate the recognisable Quit brand. The wireframes communicated the user experience, content, and artwork depiction and were reviewed by Aboriginal communities and elders across Victoria, SA, NT, and WA. Feedback was incorporated into the designs, which were reviewed again by communities. The end result is a website that was conceived, written, and designed in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the goal of increasing successful quitting attempts within the community and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to quit smoking and vaping. The website also provides important tools for community and Indigenous health workers to support quitting journeys, including a calculator, resources, stories, and dedicated Aboriginal Quitline counsellors. As a not-for-profit organisation, the website meets WCAG AA accessibility requirements.