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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
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, we have developed a Frequently Asked Questions page aimed at village managers which addresses common queries surrounding smoke-free village rules.