Smoke-free retirement villages

Second-hand tobacco smoke is a known cause of cancer and any level of exposure is unsafe.

Allowing more people to live smoke-free by reducing the community’s exposure to secondhand smoke is an ongoing priority for Cancer Council NSW.

Protecting residents from second-hand smoke

Our interest in retirement villages stems from our concern that residents of retirement villages are potentially not protected from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke if their village does not have adequate smoke-free policies in place. Many residents are concerned about exposure within their own home and in common areas.

Residents of retirement villages often live within close proximity to neighbours and spend more time at home meaning they are particularly susceptible to second-hand smoke.

Cancer Council NSW is frequently contacted by the community, including elderly people who live in retirement villages, seeking advice on what can be done to stop second-hand smoke from entering their home and negatively affecting their health and wellbeing.

Introducing a smoke-free village rule

Village rules are made to ensure the common peaceful and comfortable enjoyment of a retirement village and smoke-drift can interfere with this.

Cancer Council NSW recognises that smoke infiltration is not safe and is a continuing hazard that needs to be addressed. For this reason, the Cancer Council supports the introduction of a 100% smoke-free village rule which would ensure residents and workers of retirement villages are protected from exposure to second-hand smoke and the associated health risks.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions or would like assistance in developing or implementing a smoke-free village rule, please contact the Tobacco Control Unit at Cancer Council NSW at tacklingtobacco@nswcc.org.au.

Alternatively, read our Frequently Asked Questions page aimed at village managers which addresses common queries surrounding smoke-free village rules.