On 13 August 2025, the OurFutures Institute proudly launched the Vaping Prevention Program at the University of Sydney’s Chau Chak Wing Museum, bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, and community leaders in a powerful demonstration of collective commitment to tackling youth vaping.
Ken Wallace, CEO of OurFutures, announced the impact the impact the program is having: “The program is already being rolled out to more than 130,000 students in over 600 schools across Australia.” This early momentum shows the strong demand from educators and the value schools see in delivering practical, evidence-based resources to their students.
A Powerful Moment for Youth Health
The launch was opened with a Welcome to Country, followed by an inspiring performance by Babuga Dungara the Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Aboriginal Dance Ensemble. The atmosphere set the tone for a morning dedicated to celebrating the strength of young people, the innovation of evidence-based education, and the partnerships that make this work possible.
Babuga Dungara the Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Aboriginal Dance Ensemble
Attendees included Minister for Health Mark Butler MP, University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott, and leading researchers from the Matilda Centre. Their speeches reinforced the urgency of addressing youth vaping and the importance of prevention education that is credible, practical, and accessible for schools. Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott stated “We’re so excited with the impact that we can already see. We’re so excited by the ambition”. Reinforced by Mark Butler who acknowledged, “It is making a significant difference to our young people and frankly, what could be more important than that”.
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- Hon Mark Butler MP
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- University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott
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- Ken Wallace, CEO OurFutures Institute
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- Professor Maree Teesson, Director, The Matilda Centre
Showcasing Evidence and Impact
Guests were given a first look at the Vaping Prevention Program’s interactive modules, co-designed with young people to ensure the content is relatable, engaging, and grounded in harm-minimisation and social-influence principles. The program provides schools with flexible delivery options, making it easy to embed into classrooms nationwide.
Ken Wallace, CEO of OurFutures announced the impact the program is having. “The program is already being rolled out to more than 130,000 students in over 600 schools across Australia.” This early momentum shows the strong demand from educators and the value schools see in delivering practical, evidence-based resources to their students.
The event also featured the world-first research findings, published in The Lancet Public Health, showing that students who completed the program were 65% less likely to vape compared to peers receiving standard health education. This evidence reinforces the program’s effectiveness and highlights the power of prevention in shaping healthier futures.
The launch was honoured by the presence of key leaders from the government, reflecting the importance of tackling youth vaping at the highest levels. From the Federal Government, The Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, joined by Senator Ash Ambihaipahar and Senator Jess Collins, showed strong national support. The NSW Government was represented by Ms Kellie Sloane, Shadow Minister for Health, while the City of Sydney Council was represented by Councillors Sylvie Ellsmore and Linden Gannon, underlining the role of local government in supporting healthy communities.
Dr Lauren Gardner and Professor Nicola Newton, The Matilda Centre
A Whole-Community Approach
The event also featured a panel discussion, “The Frontline of Vaping Prevention”, moderated by OurFutures CEO Ken Wallace. The panel brought together voices from education, health, and community sectors, including Megan Kelly (NSW Department of Education), Dr Brian Burns (Emergency Physician and Clinical Professor), Sophie Bourchier (Substance Misuse Limestone Coast), and Associate Professor Emily Stockings (The Matilda Centre).
Panellists Megan Kelly, Dr Brian Burns, Sophie Bourchier, Associate Professor Emily Stockings and Moderator Ken Wallace
The panel discussion, “The Frontline of Vaping Prevention,” explored how schools, health professionals, and communities can work together to respond to youth vaping.
Megan Kelly, Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform at the NSW Department of Education, emphasised the critical role of schools, noting that “embedding this work into curriculum is so important, because that is the right of every student in our schools, to access the knowledge and skills. ”
From a health perspective, Dr Brian Burns, Emergency Physician and Clinical Professor, highlighted the reality in hospitals, sharing that “ “we see a lot of drugs, alcohol and vape associated presentations from young adults with severe injury, they are grossly over represented.”
Representing the community sector, Sophie Bourchier, Project Manager at Substance Misuse Limestone Coast, spoke to the impact of the programs in community: “The storylines really emphasise “looking after each other” and what it looks like for kids to help their friends and what they can do to help them”.
Adding a research lens, Associate Professor Emily Stockings from the Matilda Centre underlined the evidence, stating: “There’s a really close relationship between nicotine, smoking and mental health. Young people who vape are twice as likely to say that they are depressed and young people who are depressed are twice as likely to say that they have vaped. So there’s a bidirectional relationship. If you take one behaviour out, you’re potentially preventing a whole host of other associated behaviours that go along with that.”
Together, the panellists reinforced that no single sector can solve the problem alone, it requires a whole-community approach built on evidence, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Watch the full discussion here.
We also celebrated the partnerships that make the program possible, including the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, state education departments, and the University of Sydney. These collaborations ensure the program is not just research-driven, but also scalable, sustainable, and impactful for schools nationwide. The event closed with a moving performance by the Extension Vocal Company, whose voices brought the audience together in reflection and celebration of what can be achieved when communities unite for the health of young Australians.
Extension Vocal Company – Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
So what’s next?
The launch at the Chau Chak Wing Museum was more than a celebration, it was a call to action. With more than 700 schools already signed up, the OurFutures Institute’s ambition is to reach 1 million students by 2028. By working together, we can create vape-free environments and empower young Australians to make healthier choices.
Are you an educator or a school leader? Our Vaping Prevention Program has no cost to schools. Has your school enrolled in the program?
Learn more about the program here.
Watch the event highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2dpn14Do_U
Learn more about the Vaping Prevention Program: https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au/vaping-program/
