SunSmart Early Childhood Program
The SunSmart Early Childhood Program
 Since 2004 the Cancer Council's SunSmart Early Childhood Program has been awarding SunSmart status to all ACT early childhood centres/services that have developed and implemented a comprehensive updated sun protection policy. The program is aimed at reducing young children’s (and staff) exposure time to potentially harmful solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and increasing their awareness about skin damage and how to protect their skin.
Correct sun protection practices not only reduces a child’s risk of skin and eye damage but it also ensures they obtain enough vitamin D from the sun to allow for healthy bone development and maintenance. ACT childhood services are encouraged to implement their service's sun protection policy from the beginning of August through to the end of May when daily UV levels reach 3 and above in Canberra- this can be for part of or most of the day and are strong enough to damage unprotected skin.
Remember: Extra care should always be taken during the middle hours of the day (between 10am and 2pm), this includes minimising outdoor experiences as much as practicably possible between 11am and 3pm during the daylight saving time of the year when daily UV levels are at their strongest.
Why be awarded a SunSmart status?
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. With their sensitive skin, young children and babies are at particular risk of sunburn and skin damage. Research reveals that excessive sun exposure during childhood and adolescence is a major risk factor for the development of skin cancer later in life, including melanoma.
The National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) Quality Improvement and Accreditation Systems require that all childcare services have a sun protection policy in place. SunSmart can assist services to develop and maintain their own personalized sun protection policies and practices. For more information on ACT childcare guidlines and standards visit the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Service's Office for Children, Youth and Family Support.
Being awarded a SunSmart status demonstrate to the wider community that your service is committed toward skin cancer prevention and awareness. Your service also remains updated on current sun protection behaviors and strategies and will be assured that it has the most updated and effective sun protection policy and practices in place.
As a SunSmart centre you will receive:
- A large metal SunSmart sign
- SunSmart E-News
- A SunSmart certificate
- Assitance with your policy development
- Access to resources and posters
- A review of your SunSmart policy and practices every 3 years
- Special offers
- A piece of mind that your service is doing as much as practicably possible to protect the children and staff in its care
- 10% discount on bulk sunscreen purchase for your service- upon request.
Family Day Care Schemes, Playgroup and After School Care
Family day care schemes and after school care services are also invited to participate in the SunSmart program. If your service can provide a comprehensive sun protection policy then it will be recognised as playing an active role toward skin cancer prevention and awareness by receiving:
- A SunSmart certificate
- Access to educational resources and posters
- Advice and recommendations on policy development
- Cancer Council SunSmart E- News.
Cancer Council encourages ALL ACT childcare services to actively participate the SunSmart Program.
Early childhood services are the key to prevention
Centre-based early childhood services, including pre-school, long day care, kindergarten and occasional care, all play a significant role in minimising our children’s time spent in the sun.
Staff can help change behaviour by acting as SunSmart role models and incorporating games and activities around skin protection.
Early childhood services can reduce children's UV radiation exposure and skin cancer risk because:
- children often attend services when UV radiation is highest
- early childhood is a significant period to promote the healthy behaviours of a lifetime
- early childhood services, in partnership with families and their communities, can help reduce UV radiation exposure and change behaviour through policy, education and role modelling
Download Cancer Council Australia's Position Statement: Sun Protection and Infants (0-12 months).
Duty of care
Early childhood services have a responsibility to implement skin cancer prevention strategies for children and staff health.
Children: Duty of care refers to the need to protect children against foreseeable harm. Sunburn is a foreseeable outcome of over-exposure to solar UV radiation and there is now evidence linking UV exposure, particularly during childhood and adolescence to skin cancer development later in life.
Staff: Occupational UVR Exposure is a serious occupational health and safety hazard for people who spend all or part or most of their working days outside. Under the Act, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for their workers. Similarly, workers have a responsibility to adopt protective measures introduced by their employer to maintain a safe workplace.
Staff can claim sun protection related expenses on their income tax. For more information contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 2861(employees) or 132866 (for businesses) or visit www.ato.gov.au
Become a SunSmart Service (for ACT childhood services only)
Becoming a nationally recognised SunSmart service is child’s play:
STEP 1
Download the SunSmart Early Childhood Program Application Form and Agreement. Complete this and fax to Cancer Council ACT on 6257 5055. You will also be required to email a copy of your service's current sun protection policy in doc format to Cancer Council (the SunSmart Services Coordinator will request this once your SunSmart Application and Agreement has been received).
If you are having difficulty developing a comprehensive sun protection policy for your service then download a Sample Policy and Checklist for the ACT.
*You may also choose to read Developing a Sun Protection Policy to assist you with your new policy development.
STEP 2
Once you have returned your SunSmart application, agreement and policy, Cancer Council will review your application form and policy then forward a letter outlining any recommendations that will bring your policy up to meet minimal national SunSmart standards.
STEP 3
Update your policy accordingly and return it to CCACT. It is typical for most services to submit their sun protection policy 2 or 3 times before it meets such high national SunSmart standards.
STEP 4
If your policy meets minimal standards then your service will be awarded with a nationally recognised SunSmart status. The SunSmart Coordinator will aim to drop your metal sign and certificate of at your service. You will also be required to pay a one off joining fee, you will be invoiced $45 (this covers the cost of your new metal SunSmart sign). Your SunSmart status can then be viewed on the SunSmart Early Childhood Program Database (ACT).
STEP 5
Now your service has a recognised SunSmart status- Cancer Council recommends you promote your new policy and commitment amongst staff, parents and carers. It is very important that everyone associated with your service is aware of your new policy and understands that your service is serious about positive SunSmart behavior and attitudes.
What next?
As part of your SunSmart Agreement your service has also agreed to take part in a SunSmart Policy Review every 3 years. This is an important part of the SunSmart program as it allows your centre/service to report on any strategies that may or may not be working well. It also allows an opportunity for your service to comment on any future plans it may have toward promoting skin cancer prevention and awareness and to update its current policy if neccessary.
Resources available
Cancer Council ACT has a range of resources available to assist early childhood services in developing and implementing sun protection policies, practices and educational programs. Most resources are available for loan through Cancer Council ACT’s library service, some resources can be purchased from The Council whilst some resources can be provided free-of-charge to childcare centres or services with a SunSmart status. View resource list.
SunSmart Early Childhood Program Database (ACT)
With a growing number of early childhood services throughout the ACT, it is sometimes difficult to know which services have been recognised with a “SunSmart” status and which ones have not yet. In most cases Canberra childcare services are very diligent when it comes to sun protection behaviour and practices. Some services may only need to make a few minor adjustments to their current sun protection policy in order to receive a nationally recognised SunSmart status for all their efforts and commitment toward skin cancer prevention and awareness.
Services listed as “Participating” (PART). These services have already made a great start toward joining the program however have not yet achieved a SunSmart status because they have not updated and returned their services's sun protection policy. Cancer Council encourages these services to update and return their policy asap so it can be awarded a SunSmart status.
Please note that some services may already have a SunSmart status- however their policy may be outdated and require updating. Cancer Council encourages ALL childcare services in the ACT to keep their sun protection policy updated. Cancer Council ACT can assist services toward updating and developing a comprehensive sun protection policy which meets high national SunSmart standards.
View YOUR service's current SunSmart status
CANCER COUNCIL ACT's SUNSMART E-NEWS
 Summer 2010
Winter 2009
Summer 2009
Winter 2008
Summer 2007
Autumn/Winter, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions
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