The Health Promotion Team at Bayside Health Peninsula and the Mornington Peninsula Shire have been working together for over 5 years to increase smoke and vape free areas across our community.
Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in Australia (Department of Health 2025). Creating smoke and vape-free areas is important because they:
- Protect the community from harmful exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and aerosol from vapes (Department of Health 2024)
- Make smoking and vaping in the community less acceptable(young people are more likely to view smoking and vaping as socially acceptable when they regularly see people smoking and vaping) (Department of Health 2024)
- Support people who have quit, or are trying to quit smoking and vaping from being exposed to triggers (Department of Health 2024)
This work began in late 2019 with the development of the Shire’s Smoke-Free Environment Policy. This policy supported changes to the Shire’s local laws and aims to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke by making more council-owned areas completely smoke and vape free.
Eight trial sites were selected in 2021 to become smoke and vape free areas, with signage installed to support community awareness. Due to the success of this trial, the program expanded to more locations across the Peninsula.
Over the course of five years, these areas have become smoke and vape free:
- 22 beaches
- 134 playgrounds
- 35 sporting reserves
- 46 council buildings (halls, libraries, offices)
That’s over 237 more smoke and vape free spaces!
We’re proud to have created public spaces where kids can play, families can relax, and everyone can enjoy the outdoors without the risk of second-hand smoke.
If you or someone you know, are thinking about quitting smoking or vaping, support is available. Contact Quitline on 13 78 48 today for support on your quitting journey.
References:
Tobacco reform legislation and regulations, Department of Health 2025
Playground equipment: smoke-free and vape-free, Department of Health 2024
Media releases: