A CENTRAL Queensland Catholic college has suspended more than 30 students after a video surfaced of students vaping in a toilet block.
In the video, a large number of students appear sitting and standing around, with a hazy smoke in a room identified as “L Bock Bathrooms”.
“This is Emmaus College Rockhampton, although it may seem like a normal, nice Catholic school from the outside, there‘s something completely unheard of going on the inside,” a narrator in the video says.
In the video students can be seen standing at the back of the bathroom with some using a vape.
Students can also be heard swearing and mocking the school’s motto ‘light my way’.
In a letter to the Emmaus College community, Principal Eamon Hannan described the use of vaping in the video as “disappointing”, and “a clear breach of our behavioural expectations for our students”.
Mr Hannan also confirmed the suspensions “for vary lengths of time’ while an investigation was carried out.
“The decision was not taken lightly but reflects my commitment… to always maintain the safety and well-being of our staff and students as our highest priority,” he said.
Mr Hannan said students involved and their families would be offered counselling and support during the suspension period.
The dangers of vaping have been publicly highlighted with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk calling an inquiry into vaping, saying she was particularly concerned by use among young people.
The Inquiry will report back by August 31 and in particular will examine measures being undertaken in schools to discourage vapers.
“I’m hearing accounts of children in primary schools vaping during their lunch hours, so I think we need an educational campaign to really inform the public about what is actually in these vapes,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Recent research published by Cancer Council Australia shows more than 80 per cent of people in Queensland want government action on vaping to stop future generations becoming addicted to nicotine, most adults perceive e-cigarettes to be highly addictive and 87 per cent of people believe vaping should not be allowed on public transport, in pubs and restaurants or other indoor venues.
“Fewer people are smoking but we are seeing a significant number of people vaping,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“If vaping is a stepping stone to smoking, we need to ensure Queenslanders, especially young Queenslanders, are aware of the health risks.
“Critically, we need to have greater knowledge about what vaping devices contain – does anyone have an understanding of what they are inhaling?”
“Do these devices contain nicotine or, worse, do they contain dangerous or toxic chemicals? What are the possible health risks and long-term consequences?”
