NQF Vaping Ban 2025: How Early Learning Services Can Build Smoke-Free Environments
14 October, 2025

McArthur team have been working alongside early learning services for more than 35 years, helping leaders balance workforce needs with compliance requirements. Going beyond transactional recruitment, we provide insights and support services to turn regulatory updates into everyday best practice.
One of the most significant upcoming changes is the NQF vaping ban, taking effect from 1 September 2025. All education and care services will be required to ensure their environments are smoke-free and vape-free, extending the existing bans on tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances. For centre leaders and directors, this is not just a compliance matter but an opportunity to build a healthier, more professional culture that supports both children and staff.
Why the NQF Vaping Ban Matters for Early Learning
Children learn by observing adult behaviour. Environments where smoking or vaping is visible undermine a service’s responsibility to role-model safe and healthy choices. The NQF vaping ban reflects growing evidence of the risks of vaping and reinforces the message that early learning services must be places where children’s wellbeing always comes first.
For families, visible commitment to smoke-free and vape-free practices strengthens trust. For services, it reduces compliance risk and aligns with the expectations of a child safe culture.
Building a Healthy Workplace Culture in ECE Services
While updating policies is necessary, the real shift comes from embedding smoke-free and vape-free expectations into the culture of the workplace. This means:
- Leaders setting the tone by modelling expected behaviour.
- Staff understanding the reasons behind the ban and feeling supported to follow it.
- Families and visitors being made aware of the standards through communication and transparency.
When these expectations are clearly understood and consistently reinforced, services create a culture that promotes professionalism and child wellbeing beyond simply meeting a regulation.
How McArthur Supports Services with Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Standards
McArthur works with services nationwide to ensure that workforce practices align with child safety and compliance. Our approach includes:
- Induction programs where all staff are briefed on professional conduct, health and safety, and smoke-free requirements.
- Consultant guidance to help services reinforce their own policies and address any workforce concerns.
- Compliance-focused recruitment practices that screen for candidates who respect professional standards and commit to safe learning environments.
By embedding these safeguards into our workforce partnerships, McArthur gives services confidence that their teams are prepared to meet the 2025 vaping ban and maintain a safe, healthy workplace culture.
Practical Guidance for Early Childhood Education and Care Leaders
Drawing on our experience partnering with early learning services nationwide, McArthur advises centre leaders to focus on these key actions:
- Frame the change as culture, not compliance. Position the ban as part of your service’s child safe and health-first values.
- Communicate expectations early. Inform staff, families and visitors of the new rules and why they matter.
- Provide reminders and support. Use signage, team discussions and induction sessions to reinforce the message.
- Lead by example. Demonstrate through leadership actions that health and safety come first.
- Partner with experts. Work with McArthur to align workforce practices with compliance requirements and strengthen your centre’s culture.
The upcoming NQF vaping ban is an opportunity to strengthen culture as well as compliance. Partner with McArthur’s Early Childhood Education team to align your workforce, reinforce child safety, and create the safe, healthy environments families expect. Speak with our consultants today to ensure your service is ready for 2025 and beyond.
FAQs on the NQF Vaping Ban in Early Learning
Why is vaping banned in early learning services from 2025?
The NQF vaping ban protects children’s health and ensures early learning services model safe, professional and healthy behaviours.
What does this change mean for service leaders?
Leaders must create environments that are smoke-free and vape-free by policy, practice and culture. It is an opportunity to strengthen trust with families and staff.
How does McArthur support centres with this compliance change?
McArthur embeds smoke-free and vape-free standards through workforce induction, recruitment processes and ongoing consultant advice, ensuring services remain confident and compliant.
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