Bellarine Community Health (BCH) is working towards creating a smoke and vape free Bellarine Peninsula by supporting schools to educate young people and their families about the health risks of vaping.
World No Tobacco Day was on May 31 and is a global day to share information about smoking and vaping, including facts and support services.
Creating a smoke and vape free Bellarine Peninsula is part of the BCH Live Well Bellarine Health Promotion plan. BCH is changing its smoke-free signage and policies to include vaping and providing the facts to the community about vaping, including local support services.
“We are also working with local schools on the Bellarine Peninsula to support them with their vaping concerns by taking a whole school approach,” BCH Healthy Communities Planner Lauren Purser said.
“We’re providing information for newsletters and websites, promoting local support services, signage changes, school policy updates and giving them the most up-to-date information.”
“In light of the federal government recently sharing its plan to control e-cigarettes in Australia, it is now more important than ever for health promotion teams to work on the ground with their communities to tackle this issue from the bottom up.”
Locally, BCH youth services work with people aged 12 to 25 who need vaping and smoking support. Barwon Health has a Be Smoke Free Clinic in Newcomb which can support people of all ages to quit smoking and vaping. QUIT Victoria has support services by online chat, SMS or phone.
If you would like further information about vaping and smoking, email the Healthy Connected Communities team at healthycommunities@bch.org.au.
