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Queensland is the skin cancer capital of the world which makes protecting and educating the next generation about the sun’s harmful UV rays incredibly important.Too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in childhood is strongly linked with developing skin cancer later in life. Our chance for prevention happens when our kids are young, and Cancer Council Queensland is determined to help stop avoidable damage before it happens by teaching our children to be SunSmart in all settings.
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Since 1999, the National SunSmart Program has been recognising Queensland primary schools, OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) and early childhood centres who are leading the way in reducing skin cancer risk.It’s important to protect our children in these locations because school and childcare hours coincide with the period of the day when UV levels are at their highest. Informing schools, early childhood and OSHC centres about the importance of proper sun protection practices, providing sun safe learning environments and creating healthy habits from childhood, can contribute to the prevention of skin cancers later in life. Teaching sun safety practices to children throughout their learning years helps to shape healthy long-term habits.Joining the iconic National SunSmart Program is the first of many simple steps your school or service can take to help reduce skin cancer rates in Queensland.
Not sure whether your school or centre is a member in the program? Find out here.
There is specific criteria Queensland schools and early childhood centres must meet to be recognised under the National SunSmart Program. Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
Our Sun Protection Policy Guide can help you to develop your Sun Protection policy.
Membership in the National SunSmart program requires renewal every three years. You will receive an automatic reminder to complete your membership renewal ahead of time. It can help to put a reminder in your calendar, so you remember to complete the online application and submit it on time to maintain your SunSmart status. If you have lost your SunSmart certificate or can’t remember when your membership is due for renewal, please email sunsmartapplications@cancerqld.org.au for assistance.
A SunSmart policy needs to cover several key points and minimum standards relevant to adequate sun protection. This includes sun protective behaviours (like wearing hats, sun protective clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses), the environment (such as adequate shade, shade availability and the scheduling of outdoor activities), and curriculum (teaching children about sun safety, teachers and staff completing Generation SunSmart learning, and role modelling).
Your policy should outline specific strategies for each area and show how they’ll be implemented. The policy should be practical and suited to your specific school or centre’s needs while meeting our minimum standards. You should provide a date from when the policy is effective and outline when it will be reviewed. Cancer Council Queensland recommends a review six months after implementation and annually thereafter. The policy should be written on a document with your school or centre’s letterhead. Our Sun Protection Policy Guide may assist you with any reviews, inclusions or updates to your policy.
The process of becoming a SunSmart member is straightforward, and your membership application can typically be processed within a few weeks. Once you submit your application and SunSmart policy, our team will review it to ensure it meets the program requirements. If any adjustments are needed, we’ll provide guidance on how to strengthen your policy. After approval, you’ll receive recognition of your SunSmart status with a new SunSmart certificate to print and display at your school or centre, and SunSmart sign (for new members).
There are no costs involved in joining the National SunSmart Program. The SunSmart sign and SunSmart certificate you receive upon gaining membership are free. However, if you wish to replace your SunSmart sign the cost involved would be $44, including postage, invoiced to the school or centre.
We’re committed to helping schools and centres maintain their SunSmart membership. Our team is available to answer questions and provide guidance at any time. We’ll also send timely reminders when it’s time for your policy review to help you maintain your status without interruption.
While slopping on sunscreen is an important sun protection measure, unfortunately being a not-for-profit organisation, we do not have capacity to supply free sunscreen. You can, however, purchase it through our retail store, where all funds are donated back to Cancer Council.
Of course! If you have not joined the program before, you can apply to become a member by simply completing the online application form above. If you are unsure if your school or centre has joined before, or unsure if your membership is current or lapsed, please feel free to contact us at sunsmartapplications@cancerqld.org.au.
If you’d like to speak to a member of the team about the National SunSmart Program, or you have any other questions about grants and cancer prevention resources, get in touch via email.
