On Wednesday, June 11, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Tasmania officially launched its Anti-Vaping Program, designed to address the growing concern of youth vaping.
Developed in collaboration with Port Dalrymple School in George Town, the initiative is led by RFDS Tasmania’s Smoking Cessation Nurse, Christine Burt, and Education Officer, Megan Culhane, who crafted an engaging, evidence-based information session tailored specifically to George Town students.
The program comes at a crucial time, with vaping rates among young Tasmanians rapidly increasing. Recent data from QUIT Tasmania reveals that 33% of students aged 12-17 have tried vaping, a sharp rise from 13% in 2017.
“Alarmingly, the research shows that young people who vape are five times more likely to take up smoking, making prevention absolutely critical. That’s why this program matters—we’re giving students the knowledge, tools, and peer-driven support to make informed choices and protect their health."
Christine BurtWith this trend posing significant health risks, RFDS Tasmania is committed to raising awareness and equipping students with the knowledge to make informed choices.
And the response from the school community was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing surprise at the risks they hadn’t previously considered.
Strong Endorsement from School Leaders
Port Dalrymple School’s School Psychologist, praised the program, stating, “Great work on the vaping initiative team. Top stuff.” While School Social Worker, Sally Smith, highlighted the effectiveness of the message, saying, “What I liked about it was that it was really hard-hitting, which the kids needed to hear. Well done!” She also shared that several students said they “had no idea about the risks and definitely won’t take up vaping.”
School Health Nurse, Tom Millen, who worked closely with RFDS Tasmania in the program’s development, emphasized the far-reaching impact of the program. He said, “I can’t speak highly enough of the RFDS vaping information program. Our school has not only investigated the scale of vaping within our student population but also embraced the concept of letting students create health promotion material themselves—Youth for Youth. By young people, for young people. What a great concept.”
He commended the RFDS team, saying, “Working with such vibrant, professional, caring people like Chris and Megs has been a highlight for me. Their creative, honest presentation style was very well received by our students, and I wholeheartedly recommend this program and encourage its rollout to a much wider audience.”
Empowering Students to Lead the Conversation
The anti-vaping information session is the first step in RFDS Tasmania's By Youth For Youth pilot program. This peer-led model ensures that students themselves play a central role in promoting healthier choices among their peers and wider community. By fostering a peer to peer approach, the program not only educates but also creates a lasting impact, encouraging young people to take ownership of their health and help others do the same.
With vaping rates on the rise, RFDS Tasmania’s school-based prevention initiatives continue to be a vital tool in reducing harm and raising awareness, ensuring that young Tasmanians make informed choices about their health.
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