Landmark Research Announced in Parliamentary Press Conference

On 29 July 2025, the OurFutures Institute proudly unveiled the results of the world’s first randomised controlled trial into vaping prevention at a parliamentary press conference in Canberra, joined by the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Associate Professor Dr Lauren Gardner from the University of Sydney’s Matilda Center.

Minister Butler issued a stark warning about the risk to young people, stating: “Research here in Australia showed that high school students who vaped were five times as likely to take up smoking, terrifyingly, 12 year olds who vaped were 29 times more likely to take up cigarette smoking than those who did not vape.” But it’s not all bad news. He went on to announce and highlight the trial’s success: “Students in Year 7 and 8 who were exposed to this program were 65% less likely to take up vaping or to vape in the following 12 months.”

Dr Gardner described how the program was built with young people at its heart: “It’s a four-lesson, skills-based program co-designed with students and teachers, centred on interactive online cartoons that deliver peer-led messaging and model refusal skills. This is the gold standard of evaluation  and we found students who received the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program were significantly less likely to vape compared to those who had standard health education.”

Watch the full conference here.

We were also joined by students Nicolas and Flynn and Joel Richardson, Head of PE from St Edmund’s College, who provided a powerful reminder of why this work matters most, demonstrating that when young people have the right tools, knowledge, and support they can make healthier choices. Nicolas reflected that “the program helped us all get a better understanding of the true impacts of vaping,” while Joel shared the school’s perspective: “We took on the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program because we had an up-take of boys with risk-taking behaviours, and we were looking for ways to provide students with informed choices and reduce that risk-taking. We’ve since seen a drastic reduction in students vaping, which carries through to other future risk-taking behaviours.” Their voices highlighted the real-world impact of the program in classrooms and the vital role educators play in delivering prevention education.

Evidence That Prevention Works

The event highlighted the research results of the world’s-first randomised controlled trial into vaping prevention. Published in The Lancet Public Health Volume 10, Issue 8, e682 – e692, the study involved more than 5,000 students across 40 secondary schools, testing the effectiveness of the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program.

The trial found that students who participated in the program were 65% less-likely to vape one year later compared with students who received standard health education. Importantly, these students also demonstrated stronger knowledge about vaping risks, improved refusal skills, and greater confidence in making healthier choices.

The OurFutures Vaping eHealth intervention to prevent e-cigarette use among adolescent students in Australia: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Gardner, Lauren A et al.
The Lancet Public Health, Volume 10, Issue 8, e682 – e692

Why This Matters for Schools and Communities

Vaping remains one of the fastest-growing public health challenges for Australian adolescents, with increasing evidence of the harms associated with nicotine addiction and exposure to harmful chemicals. The OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program takes a harm-minimisation approach, recognising that young people are more likely to engage with education that is relatable, practical, and grounded in real-world scenarios.

While in Canberra, the team also met with Rebecca White MP and Zoe McKenzie MP to discuss the growing challenges schools face with vaping. These conversations emphasised the importance of collaboration between policymakers, educators, and communities to ensure schools have access to effective, evidence-based resources.

By presenting these research findings in Parliament, and amplifying the voices of students and teachers, OurFutures is ensuring that those most impacted by youth vaping are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

The Power of Government Investment

The success of this program has been made possible through funding of $8.7 million over 3.5 years from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. This investment demonstrates that when governments back vital and practical prevention programs, we can deliver exceptional services that make a measurable difference in the lives of young people. By supporting evidence-based education and research, governments not only help schools respond to urgent health challenges like vaping, but also ensure that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive.

Looking Ahead

With endorsements from the SA Department of Education, the NSW Department of Education, the WA Third Party Services Catalogue, and the Victorian Mental Health Menu, the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program is already having an incredible impact across Australia. Our goal is to empower 1 million students by June 2028 with the knowledge and skills to make healthier choices.

The announcement in Canberra reinforces that this program is not only timely, but also effective. It offers hope that with the right tools, schools and families can curb the rise of youth vaping and protect the health of the next generation.

Take action today. Sign up your school to the OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program and be part of the movement to empower healthier futures. 

 

Read the research: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00145-8/fulltext

Research summary: https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au/vaping-trial-results/ 

Watch the full press conference: Hon. Mark Butler MP | Press Conference | 29/07/2025

Learn more about the program: https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au/vaping-program/