Secondary Schools
2013 Winter Tree Planting Program- time to act!
 Canberra secondary schools and colleges are encouraged to invest some time and effort into a tree planting program that will increase shade for future generations. Effective trees, in the right locations, can offer excellent protection from direct UV exposure in this setting where other forms of sun protection can be more challanging. Planting shade trees around your school oval and in areas where students are likely to hang out is another way your school can be proactive when it comes to reducing UV exposure amongst this high risk group.
Download a booking form to secure your trees NOW. The booking form also includes tips on how to plant and care for your new open rooted trees.
But hurry, all trees must be collected by the end of June.
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Keep in touch with Cancer Council ACT
Click to sign up to receive Cancer Council ACT's The Sun- E-news for ACT secondary schools and colleges. Keep up to date with general news and research, resources and SunSmart initiatives throughout the year from Cancer Council ACT. Unsubscribe at anytime.
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Sun protection, skin cancer and teens.
Teenagers have sensitive skin, many continue to desire a tan and ignore the SunSmart messages which places them at a high risk of developing skin cancer later in life, including melanoma. By adopting some simple precautions now they can minimise their chances of developing skin cancer in the future. In young Australians aged 12-24 years, melanoma is the most common diagnosed cancer, with more than double the number of cases of any kind of other cancer.
Cancer Council ACT encourages ALL secondary schools and colleges to reinforce the importance of skin cancer prevention and awareness. The Council has a number of resources that are available to ACT schools that are committed toward the long term health and wellbeing of their students and staff alike. 2008 ASSAD findings- what we currenely know!
Whilst SunSmart behaviour is not routinely enforced amongst ACT secondary schools and colleges (unlike primary school settings), it has been reported on. The recent ACT Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey (2008) reported that there has been a reduction in sun protection behavior amongst ACT secondary school students. There has been a significant decrease in the number of students who reported they wore a hat on sunny days during summer. Likewise the use of sunscreen among secondary students has also declined.
On a more positive note, the 2008 survey suggested that there has been a significant decrease in the number of females who reported they were sunburnt during the previous summer (compared to past surveys), whilst the number of males that reported sunburn over the previous summer has continued on a slow but steady decline.
Other positive findings include a decrease in positive attitudes and beliefs around tanning amongst females and an increase in the number of students seeking out shade compared to 2005.
To read more about current sun protection practices and behaviours amongst ACT secondary school students download a copy of the report.
Sun Protection in ACT Secondary Schools Project 2011-12
Read more about the project, including a list of key recommendations and some tips to support those ACT secondary schools that do want to be more active when it comes to reducing UV exposure amongst their school communities.
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