Breathe easy with less smoking and vaping

The Gippsland Region Public Health Unit has launched the 'Breathe Easy Gippsland' campaign with the aim of reducing smoking and vaping across Gippsland.
Breathe Easy Gippsland is based on a similar campaign conducted by the City of Melbourne which resulted in 13 smoke and vape free areas introduced across the central business district since 2013.
GRPHU is hopeful similar outcomes could be achieved in Gippsland but is currently focused on engaging local communities.
Through community pop-ups, a social media campaign and an online survey, the public health unit aims to gauge the community's opinions and interest in increased action to reduce harm related to tobacco and e-cigarette usage.
"It's part awareness raising and part research with the goal being more smoke and vape free areas introduced across Gippsland," said GRPHU population health lead Nilay Kocaali.
Gippsland has some of the highest smoking rates of all Victorian regions, including smoking among pregnant people which in some areas is three times higher than the state average.
Ms Kocaali said the Public Health Unit need to understand the attitudes surrounding cigarette and e-cigarette usage in the community in order to improve the rates of smoking and vaping. "We need to understand what the people of Gippsland think about expanding smoke and vape free zones across our communities," Ms Kocaali said. "We also want to know more about people's own experiences, particularly when it comes to vaping."
Local businesses will be asked to support the campaign by displaying posters and sports clubs that will be sent updated signage.
"Many venues have no smoking signs, but few have signs that include reference to vaping," Ms Kocaali said. "These updated signs highlight the issue of vaping and remind people that e-cigarettes are also harmful to people's health."
Locals can have their say and contribute to the research by competing the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BreatheEasySurvey