By now you’ve probably heard the exciting news about the national roll-out of OurFutures’ Vaping Prevention Program under government funding for Australian youth. To address the concerning rise of vaping in young people, the federal government has taken the proactive step to provide funding for schools to access our evidence-based vaping education program in 2025.
This initiative is a significant opportunity for schools to equip their students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about vaping and its associated risks.
Let’s give a breakdown of what this all means and what you need to know.
What is the OurFutures Vaping Program?
The OurFutures Vaping Program is an innovative, curriculum-aligned resource designed to educate year 7 and 8 students about the health risks, social pressures, and misconceptions surrounding vaping. The program uses engaging, interactive cartoon modules and real-world scenarios to ensure students not only understand the dangers of vaping but also develop resilience against peer pressure.
The program is delivered online and uses a social influence and harm-minimisation prevention approach across four 40-minute lessons, each featuring:
- A realistic and engaging illustrated cartoon story
- Activities, including class discussion prompts, role plays, quizzes, and worksheets
- Summary sheets to reinforce key content
- Teacher resources to support delivery
The Vaping Program uses the same effective methodology of prevention education that has produced our other award-winning, evidence-based programs in alcohol and drug prevention.
Read more here.
How to get started:
The government funding means schools have free, opt-in access to this critical program. It’s super simple – here’s how it works:
Eligibility and funding coverage: The funding covers the full cost of the program for all high schools (years 7-8) in Australia.
Registration process: Easy! Schools can register for access via our website here. Just fill in a few basic details to express interest, and someone from our team will be in touch shortly.
Once approved, schools receive access to the online platform and support from the OurFutures team to integrate the program seamlessly into their classrooms.
What schools are saying:
Feedback from schools already using the program has been overwhelmingly positive. Educators report that the modules are easy to deliver and resonate with students, sparking meaningful conversations about health and decision-making.
“It’s working really well. The cartoons are fantastic and we break the students up into small groups and have had fantastic discussions and queries about poison and drugs. We have also had some great role playing sessions for the lesson on assertiveness and communication.”
”I’m really happy with the program and its design—it’s proactive and perfectly tailored to meet the goals for our Year 7 and 8 students.” – Foster College
“We are up and running.. The staff are loving it so far!”
“The students are engaged and are interested in the content.”
Of the teachers that have evaluated our vaping program…
89% rated the program as good or very good
89% found the program to be easy to implement
94% rated the educational quality of activities highly
86% said they would use the program in the future
Over 8 in 10 students have said the skills and information they learnt would help them deal more effectively with vaping situations in the future.
Why this matters
Vaping among young people is a complex and critical issue, and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. Data shows 1 in 6 high school students have vaped recently, and 12-year-olds who have vaped are 29 times more likely to go on to try smoking than 12-year-olds who have not vaped. To prevent a new generation of nicotine addicts, we need to act now.
With the government funding, schools can access a high-quality, evidence-based educational resource at no cost, ensuring all students—regardless of background—have the opportunity to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
Together, we can create a future where young people are empowered to lead healthier, happier lives.
Register your school for free Vaping Program access in 2025 here.
Author: Francesca Wallis
