Population Health
Audit of no smoking/vaping signage in council-owned sport and recreation facilities
The Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) has partnered with Maribyrnong City Council to understand current no smoking/vaping signage displayed in council-owned or managed sport and recreation settings in the City of Maribyrnong.
Reducing harms from vaping and tobacco is one of three priority areas identified in the Western Public Health Unit Catchment Plan. Through our collective impact model and the Vaping and Tobacco Action Group (V-TAG), WPHU along with our stakeholders’ vision is to prevent and reduce vaping and tobacco related harm across the catchment.
Sport and recreation settings are accessed and utilised by a large cohort of people, including many children and young people who are at greater risk of vaping harms. Local council-owned or managed sport and recreation settings are an important setting for health promotion initiatives given their role in promoting active living, community cohesion and overall health and wellbeing. By prominently displaying ‘No smoking or vaping’ signage in council-owned facilities, councils can help de-normalise vaping and support healthy, smoke-free and vape-free sport and recreation settings.
The WPHU led project aimed to understand current no smoking/vaping signage in council-owned or managed sport and recreation settings in the City of Maribyrnong, by:
- describing the current type (no smoking, no vaping, OR no smoking or vaping) and quantity of no smoking/vaping signage in council-owned or managed sport and recreation settings
- identifying areas where additional ‘no smoking or vaping’ signage could be displayed
- identifying where a sign is damaged or in need of repair and requires updating.
The findings of this audit identified 107 opportunities for Maribyrnong City Council to enhance smoke-free and vape-free messaging, including updating, adding and repairing signs.
The Western Public Health Unit commends Maribyrnong City Council for their efforts to reduce vaping and tobacco-related harm and looks forward to continued collaboration.
