Disadvantaged people want to quit smoking as much as others in the broader community but face more barriers to quitting and often receive less interest and support from workers to quit.  Smoking can be entrenched in some groups and communities and the adversity that some people face in their lives can make it difficult to quit smoking.  The difficult circumstances in some people's lives can lead workers to believe that their clients 'have enough on their plate' and are not interested in quitting smoking.

However, the community services sector is now beginning to appreciate and tackle the significant impact of smoking on disadvantaged individuals and communities. The re-conceptualisation of smoking as an important social justice issue for disadvantaged people has spurred action on smoking within many community and welfare organisations.  Increasingly, organisations and initiating contact with Quit SA to create or update their organisational policies about smoking and access training and information to enable staff to provide increased support for their clients who smoke.

Social and community services agencies are an ideal setting in which disadvantaged people who smoke can find support and encouragement to address their smoking. The delivery of services occurs within a social justice framework and philosophy, and the context of people's lives is well understood.  Many people may find the support of trusted community workers helpful.