Five Top End schools install vaping sensors in bathrooms, four more to follow

Five Top End schools have installed vaping sensors in student bathrooms in an effort to stamp out the unhealthy trend. Find out which schools have them, and which ones plan to follow.

More than 30 sensors targeting vaping have been installed across five NT schools’ bathrooms, with several more scheduled for operation in the new school year.

It comes after the Alcohol and Drug Foundation found 14 per cent of Australian kids aged 12–17 had tried e-cigarettes – 32 per cent of whom had used them in the past month.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said Casuarina Senior College, Darwin Middle School, Nightcliff Middle School, Taminmin College, and Palmerston College were fitted with vaping or multifunctional sensors.

In last year’s budget estimates, it was revealed 16 vaping sensors were installed in Casuarina Senior College’s student bathrooms, eight in Darwin Middle School’s student and staff bathrooms, and six in Nightcliff Middle School’s student bathrooms.

Taminmin College’s unisex student bathroom block contained a single environmental sensor.

The Department spokeswoman said Taminmin’s sensor was “very beneficial” and had “reduced vaping significantly”.

She did not reveal how many sensors were located in Palmerston College, which had been installed after the estimates period.

Five NT schools have been fitted with vaping sensors in an effort to stamp out the habit among students.

The spokeswoman said there were four more schools committed to installing vaping sensors, including Alyangula School, Nhulunbuy High School, Karama Primary School, and Centralian Senior College.

Sanderson Middle School was slated for installation as well during the estimates period, but has since withdrawn their intention.

The Education Department would not reveal why the school reneged on its plans.

A school’s decision to install vaping sensors usually relies on inaccessibility vapes in the community or lack of reported vaping in the school.

The NT government has rolled out a new education campaign within schools to warn students of the harms of vaping. Picture: Annabel Bowles

It comes six months after the Territory government launched its campaign against vaping in government schools, targeting kids aged 13-17.

The printed and digital campaign materials reveal how chemicals including acetone, weed killer, bug spray and nicotine are contained within everyday e-cigarettes.

Nicotine vapes can only legally be bought with a prescription, however recent compliance monitoring found “many” licenced tobacco outlets in the Top End were illegally selling the products.