Collaborative efforts helping the Kwinana community breathe easier
Left to right: Barry Winmar, Co-Chair Boola Maara (Many Hands) Conciliation Advisory Group; Michelle Verreyne, Centre Manager Knight Frank Australia; Julia Beaton, Marketing Manager Knight Frank Australia; Mayor Carol Adams, City of Kwinana; Richard Crane, Manager Health Promotion, SMHS; Hussam Al-Hakimi, Make Smoking History Campaign Officer, Cancer Council WA
A collaboration focused on minimising the exposure of second-hand tobacco smoke at Kwinana Marketplace shopping centre has been launched by South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), Knight Frank Australia and City of Kwinana, with support from Cancer Council WA.
The ‘A Breath of Fresh Air – Kwinana Marketplace’ project, funded by Healthway, involves increasing awareness of health messaging and tobacco cessation support for employees, visitors and the local Aboriginal community, with the aim to reduce the high rates of smoking within the Kwinana population.
SMHS Health Promotion Manager Richard Crane congratulated the efforts of everyone involved.
“Smoke free areas have multiple benefits for the community. They ensure clean air can be enjoyed by everyone, they discourage smoking as a normal public activity, and also help people who have quit smoking to stay on track,” Richard said.
Kwinana Marketplace Centre Manager, Knight Frank Australia Michelle Verreyne said second-hand tobacco smoke had been one of the biggest sources of complaints from customers.
“Making sure we have a smoke free environment at the centre within buffer zones, supports the creation of a healthier environment for our staff and customers to enjoy. We are confident that people will respect these initiatives,” Michelle said.
Changes now adopted at the shopping centre include the installation of new positive smoke free signage to further enforce the five metre no smoking buffer zones at centre entrances. Shopping centre employees and visitors will also have access to tobacco cessation resources and information to support people who are trying to quit or have recently quit smoking.
This is one of many priority areas for the SMHS Health Promotion team, who build capacity of partners to create healthier environments along with sustainable policies and education, with the aim of creating healthier WA communities.
Read more about the initiatives the SMHS HP team have underway to help create healthier communities.
Visit Make Smoking History (external site) for advice and support to help quit smoking.
