2021 media releases

As Victoria enters the summer months and COVID restrictions ease, SunSmart is reminding Victorians to use sun protection as they enjoy their new-found freedoms.

A national Cancer Council study assessing sun protection attitudes and behaviours of Australian adults showed an alarming number of adults still prefer a bronzed body.

New data shows a significant increase in melanoma rates in men living in regional Victoria over the last decade, prompting the launch of a new SunSmart public awareness campaign, Don’t delay. Save your skin. 

With the UV at damaging levels until April, SunSmart is calling for Victorian families and secondary schools to step up their sun protection efforts as new data shows presentations to Victorian hospital emergency departments for sunburn last summer were highest amongst teenagers (32% of all presentations).

A new SunSmart campaign targeting men was unveiled today off the back of a study showing men are complacent about sun protection – despite knowing the dangers of sun exposure and the higher death rate from skin cancer compared to women.