At school
A healthy balance of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure is important for health. Too much of the sun's UV can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer. Sun exposure in the first 10 years of life determines to a substantial degree the lifetime potential for skin cancer, while sun exposure in later life determines the extent to which this potential is realised. Too little UV from the sun can lead to low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is necessary for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and muscles and for general health.
SunSmart recommends that all schools have a SunSmart policy to ensure a healthy UV exposure balance – one that minimises skin cancer risk and helps with vitamin D. This also helps address duty of care and health and safety responsibilities for staff and students.
SunSmart has a number of resources, sample policies, family notes and online curriculum support to help share the SunSmart message. Please use the link for your school type to access relevant program membership, information and resources.
E–6 / P–6 / Special education schools
E–12 / P–12 / 7–12 schools
Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) services
Uniform recommendations
Well designed, sun protective clothing offers students effective and reliable protection from sun exposure.
Also refer to:
- Create your own SunSmart poster Online resource to help children make their own SunSmart posters with them as the SunSmart star! There are sun protection, vitamin D and snow posters to choose from (suitable for EC–Year 8).
- Generation SunSmart Fun and interactive sun protection modules for teachers, school nurses, early childhood educators and Year 6–9 students.
- SunSmart Millionaire: How SunSmart are you? An innovative game-based resource for Year 5–7 students that promotes the science behind the SunSmart message.
- Bust a myth about skin cancer Cancer Council Australia's youth website.
- Creating effective shade: shade audit tool
