The Fresh Take Project, led by the City of Stonnington in collaboration with Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston and Port Phillip councils, empowers young people to lead vaping prevention through creative action.
Supported by a VicHealth Vaping Prevention Grant – an initiative that supports Victorian councils in preventing the uptake of vaping amongst young people - the project engaged students from eight secondary schools to design and deliver their own anti-vaping campaigns through workshops in video, music, photography and visual art.
Over six months, students worked with youth workers and creative agency Your Creative to develop more than 40 campaigns – including posters, songs, podcasts, skate decks and digital content – each sharing an authentic message from young people, for young people.
These projects will be showcased on the Fresh Take website and in public spaces across participating councils through a series of street posters and Plakkit displays from the week of 17 November.
A final launch event, featuring students, families, dignitaries and health partners, will celebrate the creativity and leadership of participants.
The project was also supported by Caulfield Community Health Service, Better Health Network, the South-East Public Health Unit, Quit Victoria and Headspace.
Fresh Take forms part of Council's broader commitment to supporting young people to live healthy, connected and fulfilling lives.
Quotes attributable to Stonnington Mayor Cr Melina Sehr
"Vaping is a growing concern among young people and communities across Victoria. What makes Fresh Take so powerful is that it puts students in the driver's seat – empowering them to shape the message, the medium and the movement."
"By combining creativity with lived experience, these students have developed messages that are relevant, relatable and genuinely capable of influencing change among their peers."
"Through Fresh Take, students haven't just learned about campaign design – they've developed practical creative skills, built confidence and become advocates for a healthier generation."
Quotes attributable to Michelle Murray, Executive Manager VicHealth.
"It's important we empower young people to support their peers - using their personal experiences and creativity to allow others to see vaping for what it really is," Ms Murray said.
"We know young people who vape are three times more likely to take up smoking. Fresh Take hands young people the power to get the message out there before their friends get hooked.
"We're proud to work with the City of Stonnington to create space for young voices to lead the conversation, and push back against the tobacco and vaping industries trying to pull them in."
1 'Young people's use of vapes and e-cigarettes' Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2022-2023. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/smoking/young-peoples-vapes-e-cigarettes
Quote attributable to a Fresh Take participant
"We created original campaigns to address vaping among young people. We worked in groups and made powerful, creative projects like posters, videos, spoken word pieces and art installations – with the hope to influence our peers and community."
To view the student campaigns, visit: www.freshtake.online
Visit: Fresh Take Project – City of Stonnington
