Vaping Information for First Nations Communities

Lung Foundation Australia’s collaboration with NBPU and Na Joomelah

In our first project with Na Joomelah and National Best Practice Unit (NBPU) we have developed three short animations and a fact sheet. These resources can help you better understand how vaping affects you, the people around you and the environment.

Vapes can harm our environment

There are many different types of vapes, including disposable devices, refillable pod devices and refillable liquid devices. Vapes can cause harm to the environment. They are a problem as they are hazardous, made of plastic and are also electronic waste.

Vapes can harm you and those around you

Vapes use containers of liquid, or ‘juice,’ which usually contain artificial flavours and toxic chemicals. The vape heats this liquid into an aerosol, which is like a fine spray or mist, that you breathe in. Vape liquids aren’t properly tested or regulated, and research shows many vapes contain nicotine, even if they say they don’t.

You can make the right choice

When you choose to vape, you might miss out on good things. Vaping can affect your physical health, which can affect how you perform in sports and other activities. Spending your money on vapes adds up and may leave you having to miss out on things like grabbing a feed and so much more.

Vaping fact sheet from the Na Joomelah collaboration

In addition to the videos above, you can learn more about the harms that vaping can have on our environment, and your health and wellbeing. Read this fact sheet and have a yarn with your mob using the discussion questions.

We evaluated the impact of these resources – read the evaluation report here.

Lung Foundation Australia’s collaboration with NBPU and Apunipima Cape York Health Council

Lung Foundation Australia, in collaboration with National Best Practice Unit (NBPU) and Apunipima Cape York Health Council, have co-designed a series of resources for First Nations young people aged 18-24 years old. The resources include a video animation, three fact sheets and a poster, and cover everything you need to know about vaping and the impact on physical and mental health, nicotine dependence, how vaping affects the environment and the people around you, tobacco industry tactics and colonisation, reasons to quit vaping and how to make quitting work for you. Lung Foundation Australia developed these resources with support from the Queensland Government.

Find your reason to quit vaping

There are so many reasons to quit vaping. Watch the video below and find your reason to quit.

Vaping fact sheets and poster from the Apunipima Cape York Health Council collaboration

Other helpful links

• Call Aboriginal Quitline when you’re ready to yarn about quitting on 13 7848 and ask to speak with an Aboriginal counsellor. The Quitline operates at different times in each state or territory.
• My QuitBuddy is an app that helps you to be and stay smoke and vape-free. Learn tips to overcome cravings and use tracking to chart your progress. My QuitBuddy gives you the facts you need about the impacts smoking and vaping have on your health.
• Get in touch with your local Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) team for information about activities in your area.
• Access mental health and social and cultural resources through WellMob.
• PAVE quit vaping app is an Australian app supporting young people while they quit vaping.