What is the SunSmart Schools Accreditation Programme?
The SunSmart Schools Accreditation Programme (SSAP) provides accreditation for New Zealand schools that have developed and implemented a sun protection policy for Terms 1and 4, that meets the Cancer Society of New Zealand’s minimum criteria. The purpose of the programme is to promote comprehensive sun protection policies and practices in the school setting to reduce children’s exposure to UV radiation and their risk of skin cancer. The accreditation process recognises the efforts a school is making to implement a comprehensive sun protection policy. For many families, sun protection is an important component when selecting a school that ensures their children’s general safety.
Who developed it
The SSAP was developed in Australia over a decade ago, and has been shown to be the most effective programme for motivating optimal sun protection policy and practice in national evaluation research in Australia. (
Cancer Council Australia Website) The SSAP is recommended as the “Gold standard” schools’ sun protection programme by the
World Health Organization. The Cancer Society is promoting the SSAP to all primary and intermediate schools throughout New Zealand.
Who is SunSmart Accreditation for?
All New Zealand primary and intermediate schools (and the primary and intermediate section of area schools) can apply to become SunSmart Accredited.
The SSAP may be extended to early childhood centres and secondary schools at some stage in the future. While accreditation is not currently available to early childhood centres and secondary schools, the SunSmart Accreditation Sample Policy and Minimum Criteria for Accreditation, can be used in these areas to develop comprehensive sun protection policies.
