Moving university campuses tobacco-free: collective responsibility and collaboration the key to a healthier Victoria

The reach of Victorian universities to implement public health initiatives is significant and growing, with nearly 300,000 students and more than 40,000 academic and professional staff, as is the potential for universities to influence the heath behaviours of young people in a period where life-long behaviours are formed. This is particularly important, given that Victorians of university age (aged 18–29 years) are more likely to smoke than people aged 30–49 years and 50+ years.2