Sun safety
Our schools take sun safety seriously and implement a range of strategies to support school environments that protect students from the damaging effects of the sun.
Much of the sun exposure that causes skin damage occurs in childhood and adolescence.
By the age of 15 many children have developed irreversible skin damage from exposure to the sun.
While skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, it is estimated that 95% of skin cancers can be prevented through reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Each school has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for students and staff and this includes providing adequate protection from the sun.
Effective sun safety
Schools support students and preschool children to understand why sun safety is important and to take action to protect themselves such as:
- wearing sun safe hats, clothing and sunglasses
- seeking shade during peak UVR times during the school day
- wearing SPF 30+ (or higher) sunscreen.
Schools use the sun safety for students guidelines (DOC 268KB) to plan and implement comprehensive sun safety for students. Support tools and information sheets are included on this site:
Sun Safety for Students information sheets
(Note: These documents do not meet accessibility standards. For help, email Student.Health@det.nsw.edu.au.
- Clothing and uniform (DOC 1202.5KB)
- Information for parents and carers (PDF 895.23KB), also available in translation
- Information for public schools with preschools (DOC 1005.5KB)
- Outdoor activities (DOC 1297KB)
- Shade (DOC 997KB)
- Sunscreen (DOC 1101.5KB)
- Sun safety and the curriculum (DOC 1265KB)
- Whole school strategies and community engagement (DOC 1581KB)
- Suggested school newsletter content (DOCX 648.73KB)