A new initiative is targeting vaping in young people.
In August, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced $2 million to deliver workshops, hold community events, and develop a peer-to-peer digital platform to educate 14 to 25-year-olds about the harms of vaping.
“We know the impacts vaping has on our health and this initiative will allow young people to learn about the risks – empowering them to make health-led decisions,” Ms Thomas said.
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) will deliver the two-year project in partnership with UNCLOUD.
UNCLOUD is a digital platform that provides peer-reviewed and scientifically-backed information about vaping and allows young people to share their stories with each other.
“This initiative is about giving young people the tools to warn each other about vaping through real, authentic stories – because we know the best way to reach young people is through other young people,” Ms Thomas said.
More than 30 local councils, five sporting teams, and five universities will join the project by sharing the UNCLOUD platform at community events and activations.
Sporting bodies and teams including Swimming Victoria, Athletics Victoria, Melbourne Vipers, Deakin Melbourne Boomers, and Hockey Club Melbourne, will share and promote the UNCLOUD platform at sporting carnivals, youth holiday programs, events, and across social media platforms.
As part of the project, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation will upskill coaches at sporting clubs across Victoria with anti-vaping education.
Tertiary institutions including the University of Melbourne, Federation University, Monash University, Deakin University, and Swinburne University of Technology, will establish student advocates, while others will offer education and training on-site to health staff.
VicHealth, Quit Victoria, and the Department of Health will provide guidance and support to these organisations.
The Victorian Government will continue to work with the Commonwealth and other states and territories to implement the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024.
Banning retail sales and making vapes available only through pharmacies will in ultimately keep vapes out of children’s hands.
