The Student Council has taken a leadership role in developing this policy for a number of reasons.

1. There are significant health risks associated with smoking and research is indicating a rapid rise in the number of young people starting to smoke as teenagers. If this trend continues, then many premature deaths from smoking related diseases can be expected in the future. It is in our interests as a community to prevent students from commencing a smoking habit.

2. There are legal requirements under which the school must operate.

Federal Laws make it illegal to sell or supply cigarettes or other tobacco products to people under 18 years of age.

There is a total ban on smoking on Government premises

Since 1989, a total ban has been enforced on smoking in all Government buildings. For schools, this means no smoking is permitted in buildings, the school grounds, on excursions, or at social gatherings or camps.

3. Students and staff expect to have a smoke free environment and object to the small number of students who continue to jeopardise their own health and the health of others by breaking these laws. Under our Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines, smoking is explicitly banned from school buildings, grounds, and while on excursions, camps or other school activities. We also expect that students will not smoke while in the school dress code outside the school campus.

The aim of this policy is to apply consequences for unacceptable behaviour in relation to smoking. These consequences are designed to encourage students to quit smoking and are an adjunct to our existing Health Education Programs in the school curriculum.

Catching someone smoking can be difficult. Students have a variety of tactics to avoid detection. However the school has determined that:

1. If a student is caught smoking or has, in their possession, cigarettes, this will be taken as proof that they are in breach of the Anti Smoking Policies of the school and they will be subject to the consequences outlined in this document.

2. If there is a distinct smell of smoke, with both the hands and the breath smelling of smoke, students will be subject to the effects of this policy; with consideration given to the absence of cigarettes in their possession in the severity of consequences applied.

3. If the student smells of smoke generally but it is not obvious on their hands or breath, then they will be questioned to explain this and reminded of the health issues in smoking and the school’s position in relation to smoking.

4. If students are found smoking on their way to and from school (including under or around the tunnel) and are in the school dress code, this will be considered as a breach of this policy as outlined in (1).

5. When a student has breached the anti-smoking policy, the student is referred to the RBC. The RBC generates a smoking letter and puts it in the Year Level Coordinator’s pigeon hole.

First Time Offenders:-

There will be a letter to the parents/guardian from the Year Level Coordinator explaining that their child has been caught smoking.

Consequence: $15 donation to the Queensland Cancer Fund or 3 lunchtime RBCs.

Second Time Offenders:-

Consequence – $30 donation to the Queensland Cancer Fund or 6 lunchtime RBCs.

Third Time Offenders:-

Consequence - $30 donation to the Queensland Cancer Fund. Parents/guardians called and an appointment is made with the Principal, and one day internal suspension (working on quit program literature).