What we do
Local implementation
Implementation working parties have been established across the health system to ensure the implementation and ongoing management of the smoke free policy is carried out at the local level. Smoke free coordinators manage the policy at a local level.
Role of the Smoke Free WA Health Working Party
This group provides information and support to local implementation parties to help them establish and maintain a smoke free environment. The current priorities for this group are to:
- continue to promote and reinforce high levels of support and compliance with the smoke free policy across WA Health
- develop material for the education of health services staff and management on the policy including Occupational Health and Safety induction sessions and staff employment packs
- revitalise communication strategies including signage, media releases in community newspapers and hospital newsletters
- support health services with the education of staff in brief intervention training
- establish contacts within local government to support local solutions to manage littering in public areas
- provide advice and support to Area Health Services, private hospitals and other states and territories
Background
In 2007 the Director General invited key people from WA Health to participate in the Smoke Free WA Health System Working Party. The working party was responsible for leading the development of the smoke free policy and supporting its implementation across WA Health. It has developed the Smoke Free WA Health System Policy and guidelines for the management, compliance, enforcement and support of the policy to be used by area health services, Department of Health, Pathwest, Drug and Alcohol Office and other parts of the health system.
The policy was developed in line with the National Tobacco Strategy 2004-9 (external site) and the WA Tobacco Action Plan 2007-11 (external site). The key leadership group for WA Health, the State Health Executive Forum, endorsed the Health System Smoke Free Policy in April 2007.