Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods during which exposure to UV radiation can contribute to skin cancer in later life.
Around 40-50% of total UV to age 60 occurs before age 20
Younger age skin is more susceptible to UV damage due to a thinner epidermis
UV exposure during the first 18 years of life is the most critical risk factor for developing skin cancer
Melanoma is the most common cancer among young Australians. The good news is that skin cancer, including melanoma, is highly preventable that’s why it is vitally important that we protect children and adolescents from UV.
In Australia, up to 95% of melanomas are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation. If we protect our skin we reduce our risk.
Secondary schools are ideally placed to play a leading role in the reduction of future skin cancer rates by:
- building on the positive sun protection behaviours and attitudes learnt through the early education years
- protecting students when the UV level reaches three or above
- influencing sun protection attitudes and behaviours through education and role modelling
- Acknowledging that UV protection is a duty of care issue
- meeting WHS requirements to protect your staff
Click on the links below for resources and tools to help improve sun safety in your school.
Resources for Teachers
Cancer Institute of NSW have developed a comprehensive suite of teaching resources called the Sun and UV at School Teaching Resources. The resources are stage specific and linked to the NSW PDHPE and Science and Technology syllabuses.
Download Sun and UV at School teaching resources
Complete Generation SunSmart online learning modules to upskill about skin cancer, being SunSmart and how to incorporate sun protection into day-to-day activities.
Resources for Students
A presentation to help students obtain leadership approval for sun safe initiatives.
Download these resources:
Download these supporting resources for students:
Educate staff and students on how to apply sunscreen correctly by watching this video:
Resources for Secondary Schools
By implementing these best-practice sun protection recommendations, secondary schools can help protect staff and students from UV and reduce their risk of skin cancer.
Download Sun Protection Guidance for Secondary Schools
CCNSW commissioned the Sax Institute to undertake a review of the effectiveness of sun safety interventions in primary and secondary school settings to identify where new strategies and approaches could be used to enhance sun safety engagement and outcomes amongst NSW primary and secondary schools.
The purpose of this evidence review is to synthesise the national and international evidence base on sun safety interventions delivered in the school setting. The findings from the review will help guide how SunSmart is delivered in NSW primary schools and inform future strategies for engaging NSW secondary schools in sun safety.
Download review of sun safety interventions in NSW schools
Understanding the UV index, and checking it daily, lets you know when sun protection is needed.
In NSW, UV levels are high enough (UV 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin most months of the year.
Check the UV index daily using the SunSmart Global UV app on a smart device or install the SunSmart Widget onto a browser on network.
Quality shade can reduce ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure by up to 75%. Learn more about shade as a planning and design priority for skin cancer prevention in NSW.
A shade audit is an important first step to designing good quality shade as it helps identify the path of the sun, how people use the space and the best position for the shade. You don’t need to be a design expert to assess an area.
A good place to start is with a visual shade audit using the following shade audit tools:
View our large range of SunSmart resources including posters, flyers, brochures and booklets.
Use these Cancer Council Victoria information flyers, brochures and posters to stay informed and help your secondary school be sun safe.
Your Questions
A sun protection policy is one of the best ways to ensure your school is reducing skin cancer risk for the students and school staff. By developing and implementing a best-practice sun protection policy, you will support your school community to improve their own sun protection behaviours and reduce their risk of skin cancer.
Check out the Secondary School Sun Protection Guidance as a great starting point for developing you own sun protection policy.
We would love to send out free sunscreen to schools however, Cancer Council NSW is a 94% community funded organisation and we, unfortunately, don’t have the capacity to assist schools and services in this way.
Generation SunSmart is a great way to become a SunSmart educator yourself. It is an eLearning site that contains modules around skin cancer, being SunSmart and sun protection strategies.
They can be completed at your own pace and revisited at any time. Once you have completed all the modules, you’ll be awarded a Generation SunSmart certificate.
Sun Protection is required whenever the UV reaches three or above. In NSW, UV levels are high enough (UV 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin most months of the year, even on cool and cloudy days.
When the UV is 3 or above, it is important to: slip on some sun protective clothing; slop on SPF 50 or 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen; slap on a sun safe hat; slide on some sunglasses and seek shade.
Contact us
For any questions or concerns, please contact the team on sunsmart@nswcc.org.au or (02) 9334 1761.