Rationale
Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Skin cancers account for 80 per cent of all new cancers diagnosed each year in Australia, making it the most common type of cancer. Skin damage, including skin cancer, is typically the result of over-exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) damage accumulates over time, resulting in an increased risk of skin cancer later in life. UV exposure causes over 95% of skin cancers including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.
As children and employees are typically at learning facilities during peak UV times, schools and early childhood services play a major role in providing an environment where policies and procedures can positively influence long term SunSmart behaviour. By teaching effective sun protection practices from an early age and implementing best-practice sun protection measures, schools and early childhood services can play a significant role in reducing the lifetime risk of skin cancer.
With this in mind, St Catherine’s School realises the need to protect children’s skin and educate them about SunSmart behaviour, thus reducing the risk of skin damage from exposure to the sun.
Aims
The policy aims to:
- improve health and wellbeing of students and staff.
- provide ongoing education that promotes personal responsibility for skin cancer prevention and early detection through increased knowledge and awareness.
- provide a safe environment that provides shade and other sun protective measures to support SunSmart practices.
- create an awareness of the need to reschedule work commitments and outdoor activities to support SunSmart practices.
Procedures, Practices and Processes
St Catherine’s School will:
- inform parents of the SunSmart policy when they enrol their child.
- include the SunSmart policy statement in the school Handbook and on the school website.
- provide adequate shade in the school grounds, appropriate for the activities undertaken.
- ensure play breaks are limited to 20mins to reduce sun exposure between the hours of 10am and 3pm.
- incorporate education programs that focus on skin cancer prevention into the school curriculum.
- encourage all teachers and staff to act as positive role models for children in all aspects of SunSmart behaviour.
- seek ongoing support from parents and the school community for the SunSmart policy and its implementation, through newsletters, parent meetings etc.
- ensure that all students and staff wear hats that protect the face, neck and ears, and SPF 50 or higher, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, when involved in outdoor activities
- provide SPF 50 sun cream in each classroom and at high-risk events with regular reminders (at least every 2 hours) to reapply and stay sun safe during extended periods outdoors.
- encourage children to provide their own sunscreen and apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors.
- encourage students without adequate sun protection to use shaded or covered areas at recess and lunch times.
- when reviewing the school uniform, consider the Queensland Cancer Fund SunSmart clothing guidelines.
- require a ‘rash-style’ shirt be worn during swimming lessons.
- ensure that, wherever practicable, outdoor activities will be minimised between 10am and 3pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time [AEST]).
- ensure that, wherever practicable, adequate shade is provided at sporting carnivals and other outdoor events.
- review the SunSmart policy annually.
- consider sun-smart practices in future construction planning and work.
- register school as a SunSmart School with Cancer Council.
Our Expectations
Responsibilities of Students
Students will:
- take responsibility for their own health and safety by being SunSmart.
- comply with SunSmart rules and guidelines by wearing suitable hats, clothing, sunscreen.
- apply SPF 50 broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen when requested to by the teacher.
- act as positive role models for other students in all aspects of SunSmart behaviour.
- participate in SunSmart education program.
Responsibilities of Parents/Carers
Parents/Carers will:
- provide a St Catherine’s School SunSmart hat for their child and ensure that they wear it to and from school.
- ensure that their child applies SPF50 or higher, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before leaving for school.
- act as positive role models by practising SunSmart behaviour
- support the School’s SunSmart policy and help to design and regularly update the policy.
Responsibilities of the School
The school staff will:
- incorporate education programs that focus on skin cancer prevention into the school curriculum.
- act as positive role models for children in all aspects of SunSmart behaviour.
- ensure that all students wear hats that protect the face, neck and ears.
- provide SPF 50 or higher broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen for students along with and regular reminders to reapply (every 2hrs), when they are involved in outdoor activities e.g., Playtime, sports carnivals, excursions.
- insist students without adequate sun protection (e.g., hat) use shaded or covered areas at recess and lunch times. No Hat – No Play.
- ensure that, wherever practicable, outdoor activities will be minimised between 10am and 3pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time [AEST]).
- ensure that adequate shade is provided at sporting carnivals and other outdoor events.
Issue date 12/07/2021 Next review date 12/07/2024
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (2023)