Childhood service helps people to butt out
Published on 28 May 2015
Mildura Central Child Care Centre is taking the next step in the Healthy Together Achievement Program, tackling smoking head on and working with parents, staff and surrounding businesses to create a truly smoke free environment.
Mildura Central staff were prompted to look at this health priority after children commented on smoke coming over the fence and butts out the front of the service. Educators were quick to address this matter to ensure a healthy environment for the children and themselves.
Mildura Central Child Care Centre is one of the first early learning centres in Victoria to take on this Healthy Together priority as part of the achievement program and has engaged with neighbouring businesses who have worked hand in hand with the service to ensure children are not exposed to smoke or cigarette butts.
Assistant Centre Director, Nikki Gledhill said she is extremely pleased with the commitment from surrounding businesses and parents to help reduce the number of people smoking and leaving their butts around the centre.
“The children were asking a lot of questions about the cigarette smoke smell and the butt litter,” Ms Gledhill said.
“We teach the children about healthy bodies, but realised that we needed to do more to promote non-smoking behaviour and extend our efforts beyond the centre fence line.”
“We approached nearby businesses for help and they have been very receptive and proactive in discouraging their customers and staff from smoking near the centre and leaving butts behind for the children to find.”
Community Wellbeing and Services Portfolio Councillor Sharyon Peart praised Mildura Central Child Care Centre for taking a proactive approach to tobacco control and also the local business for their support.
“This is a fantastic example of businesses working together to help make our region a healthier place. While smoking rates across Australia have declined, there is still more we can do. World No Tobacco Day is a great time to remind ourselves of the dangers associated with smoking.”
World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is intended to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe. The day is further intended to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to the negative health effects, which currently lead to nearly 6 million deaths each year worldwide, including 600,000 of which are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
The 2011-12 Victorian Population Health Survey indicates that 16.2% of adults in the Mildura area regularly smoke cigarettes.
The work being done by Mildura Central Child Care Centre is now being reinforced by legislation implemented in April which bans smoking within four metres of an entrance to all childcare services, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Victoria.
Healthy Together Mildura is funded by the Victorian Government and is a partnership between Mildura Rural City Council and Sunraysia Community Health Services.
ENDS
Media enquiries
Angela Umback
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au