How to Become a SunSmart School

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Why should your school apply to become SunSmart Accredited?

Benefits

You will be implementing a comprehensive sun protection policy which will reduce the exposure of your students and staff to the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Becoming a SunSmart Accredited School shows your community you have a commitment to the present and future health of your students.
You will receive a SunSmart School Certificate.
You will receive a sample media release to send to your local newspaper.
Schools that are not initially successful will be offered further assistance to help them meet the SunSmart Schools Accreditation criteria.

A comprehensive sun protection policy for schools covers the following 4 areas:

Behaviour - reducing exposure to UV radiation e.g. through use of sunhats, clothing, broad spectrum SPF30+ sunscreen
Environment - promoting the provision and use of shade and rescheduling activities
Curriculum - educating about sun protection and skin cancer prevention
Policy review - undertaking review at least 3 yearly

either submit your policy and application form online, or download the printable application form.
Attach your current sun protection policy
Send the application form and your policy to your Local Division of the Cancer Society. By either email or post, contact details available here.

The Cancer Society’s role is to encourage and assist schools to become sun safe, not to judge or compare progress.
The application form together with your school’s sun protection policy will help the Cancer Society assess your school’s existing sun protection strategies so as to assist schools to become accredited
Not every strategy in the application form needs to be included in your policy. The assessment will be based on the minimum criteria for SunSmart Schools Accreditation (Download the minimum criteria for SunSmart Schools Accreditation here)
Your local Cancer Society Health Promoter will then contact your school and let you know if there are any areas that need to be included in your policy in order that your school can be accredited.

Some schools’ existing sun protection policy will already meet the criteria for SunSmart Accreditation
Other schools may need to review their existing sun protection policy to meet the minimum criteria (or develop a new policy if they do not already have one). It is important that the whole school community is involved in the development of the policy so there is a commitment to it. For some schools it may take a period of time to develop a policy that covers all areas of the essential criteria. There is no time limit by which a school has to become accredited.

Your local division/center of the Cancer Society is able to help you with developing a policy which meets the minimum criteria for SunSmart Schools Accreditation. Contact details available here.
Your regional Public Health Service may be able to help your school work towards SunSmart Accreditation.

After you have applied for accreditation the Cancer Society will advise you if there are areas to be included/amended in your policy, in order that your school can be accredited. You will be given the opportunity to make the changes to your policy. Your local Cancer Society Health Promoter can help you with developing/ reviewing your policy.
When the Cancer Society Health Promoter has assessed your policy as meeting the essential criteria for accreditation, they will contact you and let you know your school has been accredited.
Once you have become accredited, you will receive a SunSmart Schools Accreditation Certificate and a media release for your local newspaper.

A SunSmart Policy needs to:

be developed in consultation with the whole school community of BoT, staff, students, parents and caregivers.
outline the way in which the school will protect students and staff from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
meet the minimum criteria for SunSmart Schools Accreditation with regard to behaviour, curriculum, environment and policy review.

To help you develop a comprehensive Sun Protection policy a sample policy is available here (Download a sample SunSmart Schools Accreditation Policy here)

The sun protection policy is implemented during terms 1 and 4, when ultraviolet radiation levels are most intense.
All staff, students and parents/caregivers are to be informed of the sun protection policy and its intended practices.
All students wear a broad brimmed (minimum 7.5cm brim), legionnaire or bucket hat (minimum 6cm brim, deep crown) when outside.
Students not wearing a hat are required to play in allocated shade areas
The use of broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen is encouraged.
The use of sun protective clothing is encouraged (e.g. sleeves and collars).
Staff are encouraged to act as role models by practising SunSmart behaviours.
Sunsmart education programmes are included in the curriculum at all levels every year.
The sun protection policy is reflected in the planning of all outdoor events (eg camps, excursions, sporting events).
Outdoor activities are rescheduled, whenever possible, to minimise time outdoors between 11 am and 4 pm.
The school has sufficient shade or is working towards increasing the number of trees and shade structures so as to provide adequate shade in the school grounds.
The Board of Trustees and Principal review the sun protection policy regularly, including making suggestions or improvements at least once every three years.