2012 media releases

A new coalition of health organisations has formed to call on the Victorian Parliament to Switch Off Solariums for good in the state.

A new standard allowing manufacturers to increase the sun protection factor in sunscreens from SPF30+ to SPF50+ and adding improved UVA protection has been announced by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The change is supported by Cancer Council Australia.

SunSmart has welcomed today's announcement by the State Government that it will fund an advertising and digital media campaign to warn Victorians about the dangers of sun exposure over summer.

SunSmart and Cancer Council Victoria have called on the Victorian Parliament to follow the lead of the South Australian Government that has today announced a ban on solariums by 31 December 2014.

The search is on for SunSmart ambassadors to spread the word about Slip! Slop! Slap! Seek! and Slide! this summer.

An international study, published in the British Medical Journal this week, found that people who used tanning beds were more likely to develop two types of non-melanoma skin cancer, basal and squamous cell carcinoma.

The Victorian Health Monitor Report reveals that over 50% of Victorians have vitamin D deficiency in winter.

SunSmart is delighted to announce that 100% of Geelong Kindergarten Association preschools are now members of the SunSmart Program, leading the way in ultraviolet protection.

Recently published research for the first time examines changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation in Australia over a period of 50 years (1959-2009). The research found that there has been an overall annual increase in UV levels of 2% to 6% since the 1990s, for locations throughout Australia.

SunSmart and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre join together to honour the memory of Clare Oliver, who passed away from melanoma five years ago, aged 26.

With research showing that up to one-third of Australians are vitamin D deficient, SunSmart is delighted to launch a new, free online education resource to help Victorian indoor workers maintain vitamin D levels, strong bones and overall health all year round.

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New research shows almost 1 in 3 Victorians think they need the same amount of sun exposure in winter as in summer to maintain their vitamin D levels, despite ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels being so much lower in winter in Victoria.

SunSmart is warning that certain parts of the population may be at risk of low or deficient vitamin D levels during Victoria's autumn and winter months.

Victoria's leading modelling agencies have committed to a 'No Sunbed' policy in a groundbreaking move that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of solarium use and show support for an outright ban of sunbeds in this state.