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The University will go smoke-free from January 1 next year.

The ban on smoking covers all University buildings, grounds and vehicles and extends to all staff, students, visitors and contractors.

Curtin, Murdoch and Edith Cowan universities will also go smoke-free on the same day.

Smoking is already banned in University buildings and in some substantially enclosed courtyards and main thoroughfares, but some staff and students have been unsure of the extent of the outdoor bans.

The announcement was sent out to all staff and students in a recent email and, within 30 minutes, UWA 's Facebook site had 100 hits from students, most of whom applauded the move.

Guild President Tom Antoniazzi said the total ban would clear up any confusion about where students could smoke. "Informal feedback from the students is very positive," he said. "Students generally recognise the health problems Campus calls it quits associated with smoking and even some smokers have said they thought it was a good idea."

Bob Farrelly, Acting Director Facilities Management, said: "There is a lot of work needing to be done prior to introducing this change. Smokers will be supported to help them quit smoking."

Mike Rafferty, Associate Director Safety and Health, said the University of Adelaide had introduced a total smoking ban in July last year and it had been well received.

A working party will decide how smokers can be supported, how the ban should be communicated and how it should be enforced.

Mike Daube, Professor of Public Health at Curtin, has been the driver of the combined universities push to go smoke-free.

"People thought it wouldn't work at places like Subiaco Oval, but it has," he said. "If it's well done, well-implemented, it will work well."

"It's really important not to be heavyhanded with smokers. Generally the ban will be self-monitoring. A gentle tap on the shoulder is all that may be needed," he said.

Professor Daube said that fewer than 15 per cent of West Australians smoked and probably far fewer at universities, given the evidence that the better-educated people are, the less likely they are to smoke.

"A survey at Curtin showed that only about four per cent of students were regular smokers," he said.

Help to quit smoking is available at UWA through the University Medical Centre and the Robin Winkler Clinic.

This smoke-free initiative highlights the importance the Executive places on the health and wellbeing of its workforce, student population and visitors to our campuses.

More details of how a smoke-free university will be achieved will be published later in the year.

Published in UWA News , 2 May 2011