The NSW Government has announced it will be holding a vaping roundtable on 16 November to address the issue of vaping in schools.
The roundtable will hear evidence on how vaping is affecting young people and schools and will discuss effective school-based vaping interventions.
Invited to participate in the roundtable are Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer, Alecia Brooks, Manager of the Cancer Council NSW’s Tobacco Control Unit, Becky Freeman, University of Sydney School of Public Health Associate Professor, as well as leaders from the NSW Department of Education, NSW Teachers Federation, NSW P&C Federation, and the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People.
Chris Minns, Premier of NSW, said they are committed to addressing the prevalence of vaping in NSW schools.
“This is a way to hear directly from schools, health experts, and other key stakeholders on how we can begin to address this serious health issue in our schools.”
Prue Car, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, said many principals, teachers, parents, and schools are struggling with the growing issue of vaping, and how best to deal with it.
“Vaping is a community-wide issue, and the Minns Labor Government is committed to addressing it with an evidence-based approached.
“It is important we take on board what we are hearing from health experts, and we listen to what our teachers and principals are telling us.”
Ryan Park, Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health, said they know the number of young people vaping is growing, and it’s important to move ahead with evidence-based measures to tackle this concerning issue.
“It’s important we take the time to consult with experts as we formulate the best step forward as we look to curb the issue of vaping within our schools.”
Information and findings gathered at the roundtable will be used to inform future NSW Government policies and interventions into combating the issue of vaping in schools.
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