Smoke-free - University of Wollongong

UOW is a Smoke-free Vape-free environment

The University of Wollongong is a smoke-free, vape-free campus. The Smoke-Free University Policy (introduced in 2016) models positive health choices, raises awareness about the harmful effects of smoking, vapes and e-cigarettes and removes the exposure of second-hand smoke for our staff, students and visitors.

Where can I smoke/vape?

On Wollongong campus, a designated smoking/vaping area is available at B12 Unibar, which is clearly signposted and can be found using the interactive map and selecting Amenities.

Students living in residences have designated smoking/vaping areas. Please refer to your Manger, Student Residence for more details.

On the Innovation Campus, there are two designated smoking/vaping areas; one is located between B230 and B234 on the eastern side, and the other is located on the eastern side of B236. They are clearly signposted and can be found using the interactive map and selecting Designated Smoking Areas.

Users are reminded to dispose of their cigarettes/vapes appropriately.

What’s in a vape?

We explore the chemical, physiological and psychological effects of e-cigarettes.

Read more about vaping Watch video: What you are vaping

Support

For support for staff/students:

talk with your manager/supervisor to discuss support options within the University
talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other health professional about nicotine replacement options when you are on campus e.g. patches, lozenges or gum which may assist with nicotine cravings

Quitting

Making the decision to quit smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health and also those around you. If you are still undecided here are some reasons to quit smoking when considering your decision. The important thing to know is that the benefits of quitting smoking starts immediately.

More information on the dangers of vaping can be found on the NSW website. Quitting smoking requires planning and commitment – here are some links to support networks and resources that can help you get underway:

If you would like to talk to someone the Quitline is a free, confidential and individually tailored service to assist smokers quit. Anyone can access the Quitline by calling 13 7848 (13 QUIT).

If you require advice in a language other than English, you can speak to a Multilingual Quitline Advisor in the following languages:

Arabic:

الخط العربي للإقلاع عن التدخين 1300 7848

Vietnamese:

Đường dây tiếng Việt về bỏ hút thuốc. Quitline 1300 7848

Chinese (Cantonese/Mandarin):

中文戒烟热线 Quitline 1300 7848

Korean

메시지는 한국어 로 둔다 Quitline 1300 7848 23.

A telephone interpreter service can be arranged for all other languages.

Smoker

As a smoker your cooperation and assistance with the Smoke-Free Policy is vital to its success. The Policy’s aim isn’t to force you to quit smoking/vaping but rather remove exposure to second hand smoke for those that have chosen to not smoke. The University is required to provide a safe and healthy environment to everyone and removing second hand smoke from our campuses will further enhance this.

Some ways that you can help us say good bye to second hand smoke are:

follow the requirements of the policy by not smoking on campus or only smoking in designated areas
if you are smoking and someone asks you to not smoke, please acknowledge the request and extinguish your cigarette appropriately
remember that bus stops, sports areas and playgrounds are also smoke-free areas
talk to a friend who is a non-smoker about how second-hand smoke affects them to learn why it is important to have a smoke-free campus

Non-smoker

As a non-smoker you have a role to play to help enable this policy to be as effective as possible. Here are some things you can be aware of and do to help support smokers during the transition to a smoke-free university:

understand that smoking can be an addiction, and that quitting can be extremely hard especially in the early days
smokers often feel in conflict about their smoking; they want to stop, but part of them wants to keep smoking.
don’t become involved in arguments about smoking. There’s a good chance that the smoker is aware that smoking is bad for their health and is becoming less acceptable around others in public places. Disagreements only make smokers more defensive and more likely to keep on smoking
if you see someone smoking where they shouldn’t and you feel confident to approach them about the smoke-free requirements, make sure that you do this respectfully and politely. You’ll have a much better chance of a positive outcome. If you are not confident please send an email to smoke-free@uow.edu.au and we can monitor the area to help with compliance
if you have a friend who is a smoker make sure you show them a positive example of how to deal with stress, boredom or good and bad feelings. Does your lifestyle provide an image of a non-smoker that would appeal to your smoking friend?
if you know someone that has overcome their smoking addiction introduce them to a friend who is thinking about quitting. Their experience could really help them make a smooth transition and avoid setbacks.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Why has the University gone smoke/vape free?: It is well known that smoking is a leading cause of death and illness which is preventable. By restricting where people can smoke/vape on our campuses the University is taking a proactive step to remove exposure of the harmful effects of second-hand smoke for those that have chosen not to smoke.

Q. What is second hand smoke?: Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is emitted from a lit cigarette as well as the smoke exhaled by the smoker. There are over 4,000 chemicals in second-hand smoke which is linked to the premature deaths of an estimated 600,000 people per year. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

Q. What should I do if I see someone smoking on campus?: If you see someone smoking/vaping on campus you are encouraged to politely let them know that that they are required to comply with the University’s smoke-free requirements.

Q. What do I do if someone continues to smoke on campus?: Please notify us by email smoke-free@uow.edu.au of the area and we can help raise awareness of the smoke-free requirements.

Q. Are there penalties applied to students or staff for smoking on campus?: Disciplinary action for staff, students or visitors according to the University Access and Order Rules may be applied for those that repeatedly fail to meet the smoke-free requirements.

Q. What support is offered to smokers who want to quit?: It is recommended to talk to your local GP and/or make contact with quit.org.au or the Australian Government Quit Line. In addition, staff can use the employee assistance program services and students can talk to the Student Support Coordinators about support options.

Q. What if I don’t want to quit smoking?: That’s your choice. All we ask is that you cooperate with the University’s smoke/vape-free requirements. If that is an issue, please talk to your doctor or contact Quitline to discuss what options are available to help manage nicotine cravings while on campus.

Q. Are e-cigarettes permitted on campus?: No. Research has indicated that the chemicals in e-cigarettes and their vapour are harmful so they are also precluded from use on campus.