University of Melbourne hiring vaping prevention officer for their Parkville campus
The University of Melbourne is hiring an anti-vaping officer in a role largely funded by the taxpayer.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A major Melbourne university is hiring an anti-vaping officer.
The University of Melbourne is advertising the role of a vaping prevention project officer with a pay packet of between $98,870 and $107,023 plus 17 per cent super — pro rata for part time.
The candidate will lead the Parkville university’s “impactful vaping prevention project” which will “make a lasting impact on student health”.
It will include creating a vaping prevention plan, delivering workshops and promoting anti-vaping campaigns to the students.
“You’ll lead a groundbreaking initiative to address vaping among university students,” the job advertisement, which was posted on Monday, reads.
“Your role will be crucial in shaping healthier campus environments and contributing to impactful research on vaping prevention strategies.”
The part-time role, on a fixed-term contract until March in 2028, also appears to offer the flexibility of working from home.
The Herald Sun understands a number of similar roles may be advertised at other universities across Melbourne.
It is said to be largely funded by VicHealth — an arm of the state government.
The job offer is despite a decrease in the number of young Australians vaping, a report released last week found.
The Generation Vape Project claims the rate of vaping among those aged 18 to 24 dropped from 20 per cent in 2023 to 18 per cent in 2025.
“The Generation Vape Project also finds that young people are reporting less of their friends vape in 2025 (7.6 per cent) compared to 2023 (14.9 per cent),” the report said.
More than 10 million illegal vapes have been seized by border force officials since the start of 2024 but continue to be shipped in from overseas.
Dodgy tobacconists and convenience stores are continuing to illegally sell the product despite the law stating they can only be purchased at chemists with a prescription.
Vapes remain a lucrative and popular sale point for organised crime figures who have been selling illicit tobacco from their 1000-plus stores across the state.
Friction within that sector has fuelled the ongoing tobacco war that has seen nearly 140 arson attacks since March 2023.
Melbourne University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Gregor Kennedy said the role would provide a number of health benefits for students.
“The health and wellbeing of our students and staff are, and always will be, a priority for the University of Melbourne,” he said.
“The University is a smoke-free campus and this includes vaping. As part of the University’s broader Health Promotion program we are partnering with VicHealth to reduce and prevent vaping harm among our community.”
Professor Kennedy said the new role was funded by VicHealth, which is aiming to combat vaping among university students in Victoria.
“The Project Officer — Vaping Prevention role has been created to co-ordinate and implement a vaping prevention plan across University of Melbourne campuses, as outlined in a VicHealth grant aimed at addressing vaping among university students,” he added.
“This role has been funded by a VicHealth grant.”
Chief executive officer of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Professor Anna Peeters said more work was underway.
“We have emerging data that indicates the positive impact of our collective advocacy, policy and program work and it is critical we continue to put the health of the community — particularly young people — ahead of the profits of industry,” she said.
“VicHealth has worked with a number of local councils, community organisations, universities, state sporting associations and elite sporting teams to reduce vaping-related harm among young people, as part of our Collective Impact program over the last 18 months.
“VicHealth is preparing to work with a number of partners, including universities, on the next stage of the Collective Impact program.”
Originally published as University of Melbourne hiring vaping prevention officer for their Parkville campus
Revealed: How predators can use others’ WWCC credentials
A loophole in the Services Victoria app is letting people infiltrate other people’s Working With Children’s Checks in seconds, giving them the chance to pass them off as their own. Watch how easily it’s done.
Ugle-Hagan’s car used by masked bandits in shocking crime spree
Machete-wielding thugs have stolen Western Bulldog star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s Jeep and gone on a violent rampage across Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.