Vaping Crackdown wellbeing lesson plan
A secondary wellbeing lesson for Years 9 to 13 that helps Australian teachers introduce vaping and the global government response to it through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students look at why governments around the world are tightening vaping laws and regulations, build knowledge about health and legal considerations, and practise decision-making skills for managing peer pressure and seeking support.
Substances & Risky Behaviours
Snapshot
Vaping Crackdown
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce vaping regulation and safer decision-making without relying on scare tactics. Feedback: 4.1/5 from 50 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Understanding global vaping regulation and building safer decision-making skills
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise that vaping laws and regulations are changing in many countries
recognise common sources of pressure to try or continue vaping
recognise the difference between accurate health information and misinformation
Understand
understand why governments are introducing stricter vaping regulations
understand the health and legal considerations linked to vaping
Practise
practise responding to peer pressure around vaping
practise identifying reliable sources of health information
practise seeking support or accurate information when needed
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for secondary students in Years 9 to 13 who are building awareness of substance use, health risks and decision-making in everyday life. It works well for students with some prior exposure to health education topics, as well as those encountering formal discussion of vaping for the first time.
It is suitable for:
secondary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care or advisory sessions
substance use or risky behaviour units
respectful, whole-class discussion about health and legal topics
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing vaping and substance use topics Use when students need a calm, factual starting point for discussing vaping and related health considerations.
Reinforcing health education content Use when building on existing Health or PDHPE learning about substances and risk.
Responding to new vaping laws or restrictions Use when students are hearing about changing regulations and need accurate context.
Supporting peer pressure discussions Use when students need language and strategies for managing pressure to vape.
Building decision-making skills Use when focusing on critical thinking around health choices and misinformation.
Preparing pastoral or advisory programmes Use when incorporating substance use awareness into a broader pastoral care or advisory sequence.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Students are likely to encounter vaping through friends, social media or changing news about laws and regulations, so having accurate, non judgemental information matters. Understanding why governments are tightening vaping rules helps students make sense of a topic that can otherwise feel confusing or contradictory. It also gives them language to think critically about health claims and peer pressure, rather than relying on assumptions. This lesson supports a proactive approach to substance use education, helping students build decision-making skills and know where to find support before they are faced with pressure to vape.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Health literacy Students build understanding of the health and legal considerations linked to vaping.
Critical thinking Students evaluate information and misinformation about vaping and regulation.
Decision-making Students consider how to respond to pressure to vape in everyday situations.
Peer pressure management Students practise language for managing pressure from friends or peers.
Help-seeking Students learn where to find accurate information or support.
Civic awareness Students consider why governments introduce health related regulations and what this means for individuals.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students not to name classmates or share stories about other people's substance use
Frame the discussion around global policy and general examples, not personal disclosures
Make clear that the lesson is about building knowledge and decision-making, not judging individual choices
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
During delivery
Use factual, harm-informed language when discussing health and legal considerations
Avoid scare tactics or absolute statements about consequences
Give students opportunities to ask questions and discuss openly
Reinforce that seeking accurate information or support is a responsible choice
Supporting safe discussion
Keep examples general rather than referring to specific students or incidents
Encourage respectful discussion of differing views on vaping and regulation
Redirect any personal disclosures to a private conversation with a trusted adult
Adaptation options
Use small group discussion for classes with mixed prior knowledge
Provide additional context on legal considerations for older year levels
Spend more time on support pathways if students have limited awareness of where to seek help
This lesson does not replace medical, counselling or specialist advice. Refer students to appropriate school or health support services if needed.
