East Gippsland primary school children are learning about the risks of vaping as part of a new program delivered by the health promotion team at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health. 
The Gippsland Lakes Complete Health Prevention of Vaping project was highlighted at the recent Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health (ARRCH) conference and chair Mandy Hutchinson said she believed all Victorian communities could benefit from the program.
"Vaping continues to be attractive to young people and this is a program that could be rolled out across regional Victoria to make an impact for future generations," Ms Hutchinson said.
The Gippsland Lakes Complete Health team is also working with regional community health organisations to train their health promotors to facilitate vaping prevention and education sessions in their local schools.
Health Prevention and Population Wellbeing Worker Tehseen Zafar, who presented at the ARRCH conference, said e-cigarette use among young people was a growing concern in East Gippsland and across Australia, but many people didn't understand the long-term health risks associated with vaping.
"We conducted surveys through information forums that showed 85 per cent of people weren't aware of the consequences of vaping and 78 per cent were unaware of the toxic chemicals," Mr Zafar said.

IMAGE: Health prevention  and wellbeing officer Tehseen Zafar (second from left) with a vaping display at Headspace Bairnsdale. (PS)