Majura Primary School has been named as the 100th ACT primary school to register for the SunSmart schools’ program with Cancer Council ACT. The territory now boasts around 95% of all ACT primary school students, educators, teachers, and staff being protected by the nationally accredited SunSmart policies and procedures.
Running since 1999 in the ACT, the SunSmart schools program helps primary schools to provide a safe environment for students and staff through education and resources that support good UV protective behaviours.
Cancer Council ACT Chief Executive officer Verity Hawkins said, “Thanks to funding from ACT Health, and donations to Cancer Council from the ACT community, our latest figures show that around 60,000 children in the ACT are protected by SunSmart program policies across primary schools and early learning centres.”
“We know that roughly two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and that 95% of these skin cancers are related to UV radiation. Reducing exposure to UV radiation throughout the lifecycle is critical to reducing the over 100 skin cancer treatments performed in Australia every hour.”
The CCACT SunSmart program offers teacher and student education sessions, as well as promotional resources and a free events package for school communities that provides shade and sunscreen at events. The program also provides administrative support to schools and early learning centres to develop and review their UV protection policies to ensure the safety of the ACT’s young people.
Liz Bobos, Majura Primary School Principal, stated, “At Majura we take a lot of care to keep ourselves safe in the sun, so we are thrilled to be Cancer Council ACT’s 100th school to register for the SunSmart program.”
By becoming an official member of the SunSmart schools’ program in the ACT, Majura Primary furthers their commitment to the health of their school community through reducing the harm caused by UV exposure to staff and students.
Find out how you can register your school or early learning centre as part of the SunSmart schools program here.