07 November 2025
What’s this about?
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has commissioned the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to develop an updated NHMRC Statement on Electronic Cigarettes (The Statement). The Statement will reflect the latest evidence on the marketing and use of e-cigarettes and their impacts on individual and population health.
The updated Statement will address key issues, including:
Health risks to users and bystanders
E-cigarettes and their role in smoking cessation, initiation, and continued use
Dual use with tobacco or other nicotine products
Nicotine exposure in young people
Research integrity and potential conflicts of interest
Gaps in the current evidence base
The NHMRC is establishing an Electronic Cigarettes Advisory Committee (the Committee) that will produce an updated NHMRC Statement on Electronic Cigarettes.
Learn more about NHMRC: www.nhmrc.gov.au
Read the current 2022 NHMRC CEO Statement on Electronic Cigarettes | NHMRC
What’s the opportunity?
The NHMRC Electronic Cigarettes Advisory Committee (the Committee) will include members with expertise and experience that includes:
· Lived experience
· Tobacco control and smoking cessation
· E-cigarette advertising and promotion
· Research methodology and integrity
· Toxicology, pharmacology, and respiratory health
· Nicotine use among young people
· Mental health and epidemiology
To ensure the Statement and supporting materials are clear, relevant, and accessible, NHMRC is inviting up to two health consumer representatives to join the Electronic Cigarettes Advisory Committee.
The Committee will begin in December 2025 and is expected to have completed the updated NHMRC Statement on Electronic Cigarettes by 30 June 2027, with possibility of extension.
Who should apply?
You’re encouraged to apply if you:
Are a consumer representative with an interest in contributing to the development of the updated NHMRC Statement on Electronic Cigarettes.
Have personal experiences or perspectives that may benefit the work of the Committee, such as someone who:
- currently smokes cigarettes or electronic cigarette products; or
- previously smoked cigarettes or electronic cigarette products; or
- has used electronic cigarettes for cigarette smoking cessation; or
- cares for or supports someone who has currently or previously smoke(d) cigarettes or electronic cigarette products; or
- cares for or supports someone who has used electronic cigarettes for cigarette smoking cessation.
Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
Have experience in consumer engagement activities, such as advisory groups or committees that have helped shape communication materials, policies, reports or research.
Are available during business hours to attend virtual/online committee meetings. The final meeting schedule will be confirmed in consultation with The Committee members.
NHMRC cannot consider individuals with links to the tobacco, vaping or electronic cigarette industries (including links via immediate family members). Once applications have been received, NHMRC will contact applicants to request they complete a Declaration of Interest form.
What is involved?
If selected, you’ll be asked to:
Attend approximately 9 online meetings (usually 2 hours each) between December 2025 and 30 June 2027 (with potential for extension). If face-to-face meetings or work out of session are required, NHMRC will discuss the details of this and cover expenses.
Complete up to 1 hour of pre-reading before some meetings.
- A pre-meeting with NHMRC staff may be organised to support individual panel members involvement (if required).
Review and provide feedback on evidence reports and draft materials.
Provide feedback on how evidence and guidance is communicated to the general public, and for diverse communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups, and regional and rural populations
Sign a formal Declaration of Interest agreement
You’ll be paid $95.20 per hour (ex GST) for committee meetings (up to a maximum full day fee of 5 hours) and approved additional work outside of meetings (up to a maximum of 4 hours for each occasion).
Note:
The NHMRC hourly rate for session/meeting attendance is inclusive of any pre-reading required for each meeting.
Other details:
People who bring a diversity of perspectives including from rural and regional areas, cultures, disabilities, age groups, and genders are encouraged to apply.
You’ll need access to a computer and reliable internet. If this is a barrier, please contact the team (publichealth@nhmrc.gov.au).
How to apply:
To be considered for appointment, you MUST provide:
1. A word or PDF document responding to these questions:
Why are you interested in joining the Electronic Cigarettes Advisory Committee ? (Maximum 400 words)
Share what motivates you to be part of this panel. You might want to include your personal experiences, interests, or perspectives that you think would help improve how the review and guidance is communicated to the public through the updated Statement.
Are there any topics or key issues you feel should be prioritised for review in the updated Statement on Electronic Cigarettes? (Optional. Maximum 150 words)
Provide a brief explanation of 1-2 priorities.
2. A summary list (or CV) of your employment and consumer engagement activities in the last 5 years. The summary should include:
a. Name of the organisation
b. Date/year of employment/activity
c. Position title/type of consumer engagement activity (e.g. consultation, advisory group).
Declaration of interest: Once applications have been received, NHMRC, will ask applicants to complete and return a Declaration of Interest Form. NHMRC will assess applications on their eligibility and perceived or actual conflicts of interest.
The information collected by NHMRC as part of this application process is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) and NHMRC’s Privacy Policy.
Send your application to publichealth@nhmrc.gov.au by 3:00 PM AEST, Thursday 4 December 2025.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Questions?
If you have questions about applying, please email publichealth@nhmrc.gov.au.
