Reducing harm from smoking, vaping, alcohol and other drugs

The misuse of alcohol and other drugs, including tobacco and vaping, is widely recognised in Australia as a major health problem, and one that has broader social and economic costs.  

In line with our Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2031, City of Ballarat has a role in helping reduce alcohol and other drug-related harm including smoking and vaping, by supporting and promoting alcohol and drug-free events, addressing place-based safety issues, and considering public amenity and potential for misuse and abuse when reviewing liquor licence applications. We work with a wide range of partners to implement effective supply-reduction, demand-reduction and harm reduction strategies.

City of Ballarat are partnering with organisations across the Central Highlands to deliver the Central Highlands Vaping Prevention project, which has been funded by VicHealth. The aim of the project is to reduce or prevent the uptake of vaping among young people. Partners include: Moorabool Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Ballarat Community Health, Federation University and the Grampians Public Health Unit. The project includes the following initiatives:

• Encouraging schools to deliver Quit’s Seeing through the Haze curriculum
• Engage with young people to encourage authentic, peer-to-peer conversations and gain local insights to address vaping  
• Offering a new competition at Royal South Street Eisteddfod for students to develop performances supporting vape prevention
• Working on youth-inspired vape-free initiatives with local sports and recreation groups
• Providing information and support to local health practitioners and school staff on vaping prevention

To prevent exposure to second hand smoke and aerosols (from vapes), and to support people trying to quit, smoking and vaping is banned in all enclosed workplaces and within 4 -10 metres of certain public spaces. For a list of areas where smoking and vaping is banned please check the Department of Health website

City of Ballarat have endorsed the extension of no smoking areas for 2 precincts:

• The block bounded by Girrabanya Child Care Centre and Eastwood Leisure Centre (since Nov 2015)
• The building and sports grounds surrounding the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility (since March 2015).

Go to our Tobacco prevention page to see council information and compliance with the Tobacco Act 1987, including smoke and vape-free outdoor dining.

City of Ballarat have a role to play in helping reduce alcohol and other drug-related harm by supporting and promoting alcohol and drug-free events, addressing place-based safety issues, and considering public amenity and potential for misuse and abuse when reviewing liquor licence applications.

View the City of Ballarat Reducing Harm from Alcohol and Other Drugs - Social Policy Position Statement

For more information please contact the Health and Social Planning team:

Email: hsplanning@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Phone: via customer service 5320 5500