University plans for a smoke-free campus

Smoke-free air will soon be enjoyed by all staff, students and visitors to University of Adelaide campuses as the University moves towards an entirely smoke-free environment over the coming year.

After more than 12 months of consultation, the University has just released a draft policy that will make all outdoor spaces, including car parks, sporting grounds and garden areas smoke-free. Smoking inside buildings is already prohibited under state legislation.

The University aims to be the first higher education institution in the state to establish an entirely smoke-free environment on all of its campuses.

"The University of Adelaide is committed to providing a healthy environment for staff, students and the wider community who share and visit our campuses," said Professor Justin Beilby, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

"As an institute of higher learning, we cannot ignore the seriousness of the health risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke."

The move has been fuelled by strong and positive support from the wider University community and similar plans by SA Health to introduce smoke-free policies across all public health facilities.

"The late Professor Konrad Jamrozik, the former Head of School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, played a leading role in championing the prohibition of smoking on campus," said Professor Beilby.

Last year, the University's Pulteney Street precinct was officially declared a smoke-free area (inside and outside buildings). This demonstrated the University's resolve to encourage healthier lifestyle choices and to minimise the impact of smoke on students, staff and visitors to the University.

A significant part of the implementation of a smoke-free policy includes appropriate support for staff and students who want to stop smoking.

"We are taking a staged approach with the implementation, which will give our staff, students and partners time to adjust to the healthier smoke-free campus environment and encourage current smokers to quit," Professor Beilby said.

Story by Kate Husband