No Vaping Forum held at Coffs Harbour Golf Club

Youth vaping community forum

Jun 13, 2023

Community representatives from across the Mid North Coast were invited to have their say at a forum led by the North Coast Youth Vaping Taskforce in Coffs Harbour last week.

The taskforce is a collaboration between Mid North Coast LHD Health Promotion, North Coast Population and Public Health Unit, and the Northern NSW Local Health District Health Promotion.

Key partners include NSW Police, Department of Education, Catholic and Independent Schools, Ministry of Health, Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations, Healthy North Coast and non-government organisations who work with young people.

“Community consultations sessions indicated a high level of community concern around access to vapes and the health harms for young people. Of concern was the associated nicotine addiction and the impact it has on young people’s behaviour, general emotional wellbeing and their ability to focus in class,” said MNCLHD Tobacco Cessation Coordinator Mel Ricketts.

The community forum brought together representatives from education, non-government organisations, health and youth representatives to hear each other’s concerns and stimulate ideas on what needs to happen to protect young people from the harms of vaping.

“The Forum provided an opportunity for the community to inform solutions and be part of a community-led response,” said District Manager Health Promotion Nicola Kerr. “Participants collectively shared their knowledge and insights, discussing each issue and then focused on finding community-led solutions.”

A second forum will be held in Ballina on 20 June. The feedback from both forums will be used to develop a Regional Action Plan to take collective action to tackle youth vaping and will be supported by the taskforce.

Click here for more information about youth vaping, the taskforce and for the latest evidence.