Say hello to Sun Mum, lovelies

When it comes to sun protection, the forgetfulness of young Aussies is resulting in a lot of red faces.
Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift calls in Sun Mum to nag our next generation about skin cancer risks!

When it comes to healthy lifestyle behaviours, young Aussies need our support, especially on being SunSmart.

The good news is that fewer young people today think tanning is cool, but the bad news is that sun protection is still not daily practice, and our next generation is at risk of future skin cancer.

Over recent decades we have seen a solar shift away from Baby Boomers basting in coconut oil to bake in the sun, with Cancer Council’s latest National Sun Protection Survey reporting a decrease in the number of Aussie teens desiring a tan, down to 38 per cent from 60 per cent in 2003/04.

And for the first time in history, the rate of invasive melanoma in Queenslanders under 40 has declined, a sign that our investments in Slip, Slop, Slap really have paid off.

Despite these generational improvements, incidental sun exposure remains a major contributor to future risk of skin cancer, with around 23 per cent of Aussie teens still experiencing a sunburn on summer weekends, with no improvement on numbers recorded a decade ago.

A burning issue, Queenslanders aged 16 to 24 have the highest rates of sunburn in the state. Alarmingly, only 15-20 per cent of young Queenslanders* use broad-brimmed hats, and are less likely to use of sunscreen and sunglasses than older age groups.

Step in Sun Mum. She’s a force to be reckoned with and is on a strong campaign to stop adolescents dying from skin cancer in years to come.

She has her own Facebook page, a YouTube channel, a Twitter account, and even a blog.

With more than 40,000 Facebook followers, she recently launched a pro-sun protection song (‘Burn Your Bits’) with an ambition to be listed on next year’s Hottest 100.

If you know a young Queenslander who needs some nagging, introduce them to Sun Mum.

You can find her at www.facebook.com/TheRealSunMum or sunmum.tumblr.com.

More information about Cancer Council Queensland via Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 or on our website.


For interviews, please contact:

Katie Clift, Executive Manager, Media and Spokesperson, Cancer Council Queensland

Ph: (07) 3634 5372 or 0409 001 171

For more information, please contact:

Eliarne Iezzi, Senior Media Advisor, Cancer Council Queensland P. (07) 3634 5153 or 0457 280 268