Life Education Calls for Government Reform on Anti-Smoking Campaign

Life Education Calls for Government Reform on Anti-Smoking Campaign

Life Education, the nation's largest non-government provider of drug and health education in schools, has marked World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2012 by highlighting the need for the Australian Government to redress the exclusion of children in its current anti-smoking policy.

The leading charity, which worked in over 3500 schools in 2011, questions this significant omission and strongly recommends that the Australian Government's anti-smoking campaign pay greater attention to reducing the uptake of smoking among the nation's children and young people.

With smoking remaining a major cause of preventable disease and premature death across the population, David Ballhausen, Chief Executive Officer of Life Education Australia, applauds many of the Government's current efforts to reduce smoking throughout Australian communities but argues that the Government should include a school education component in its approach.

'There are many aspects of the Government's anti-smoking campaign that we endorse, in particular the recent increase in excise imposed on tobacco, restrictions on advertising and retailing and, of course, its stance in relation to plain packaging. However, Life Education believes it is vital that the Australian Government also focuses on educating children to help reduce tobacco usage amongst the next generation of potential smokers.

'The National Preventative Health Taskforce, commissioned by the Australian Government, highlighted the importance of dramatically reducing the number of children taking up smoking if we are to ensure tobacco use across the country continues to decline. It is remarkable that the Government's tobacco campaign is exclusively focused on adults. It needs to acknowledge the importance of educating our children about smoking."

Mr Ballhausen also highlighted the Australian Government's $61 million advertising budget which seeks to convince adults to give up smoking.

'Whilst encouraging adults to quit is an essential part of the Government's campaign, this allocation of funding seems disproportionate - particularly when the needs of children and young people go unattended. There should be a complementary investment supporting this advertising spend that reinforces the anti smoking message amongst Australia's children."

Life Education understands that educating children on the dangers of tobacco usage equips them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to avoid the uptake of smoking. The organisation is backed by schools, teachers and parents across the country.

George Kalandadse, former Principal for 13 years at St Albans Heights Primary School, Western Suburbs, Melbourne has worked in education since 1971 and believes the power of education is fundamental in ensuring that smoking rates amongst young Australians continue to fall.

'Giving children the knowledge and ability to say -no' guarantees to impact upon those that decide to take up smoking in later life. Life Education recognises this fact and deals with issues including peer group pressure to ensure kids are equipped with the necessary tools to make the right life choices," said Mr Kalandadse.

'Young people need guidance and a big part of that comes from schooling. Limiting that guidance - especially on subjects such as substance abuse – is potentially catastrophic. Having worked in education for over 40 years I've seen the difference it makes. I'd hope most of my former colleagues and the parents of all those children I've taught would agree with me."

Hilary Ingle, primary school teacher and parent of three children aged 7, 9 and 11, is based in Balgowlah Heights, Sydney. Ms Ingle says anti-smoking messages need to cross over between the home and school.

'It's extremely disappointing to know that anti-smoking isn't valued as an important part of learning in our schools. Learning about health choices and the consequences of smoking should be part of every child's school education so that good foundations laid at home can be reinforced. Children need to hear things from their teachers as well as their parents - there needs to be a partnership. This synergy enables children to learn about the facts, then form and shape values."

Martin Williams of Mount Martha, Victoria is a parent of two primary school children aged 8 and 9 respectively. Commenting on the Government's anti-smoking policy, Mr Williams said; 'As a parent I find it of national concern that without organisations such as Life Education, the schools our children attend wouldn't tackle problems such as smoking like they should. I offer my children all the advice I can but kids are so impressionable... I understand that their influences extend to the school and playground. It's frightening that the Australian Government isn't doing more to ensure children receive the education they need to help them make the choice not to smoke."

Life Education is the largest non-government provider of drug and health education to children and young people, Australia wide. It is well known for its popular mascot, Healthy Harold the Giraffe. Life Education works to motivate, encourage and empower children and young people to exercise real choice – and make informed, safe and healthy lifestyle decisions, through its leading health education program. In 2011 Life Education worked in 3,550 schools. Each of these schools self-selected to partner with it, purchase its services and make available its program to 621,000 students in their care. Life Education is a registered charity, independent of both government and religion which has been operating since 1979.

Over 4 million students have participated in Life Education's program over the past 32 years. For further information on Life Education please visit www.lifeeducation.org.au