Child Care New South Wales is on a mission to have 100% of its members actively participating in the SunSmart Childcare Programme.
It has joined forces with Cancer Council NSW to develop and implement a sun protection policy that minimises children’s exposure to UV radiation and reduces the risk of skin cancer.
“By working together we can ensure that up to date messages and relevant resources are made available to the private childcare sector in NSW, and that they reach as wide an audience as possible via Child Care New South Wales’ communication channels,” said Jackie McIver, SunSmart’s Programs Manager.
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in every three people developing some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.
“Sun exposure during childhood has a significant impact on a person’s risk of developing skin cancer," said McIver.
“Early childhood education and care services are therefore an important setting for both protecting the skin of children in care, and providing information and support to staff and families around positive role modeling and making healthy skin protection choices all year round.”
“With summer just around the corner, sun safety is more important than ever,” said Child Care New South Wales President, Nesha O’Neil.
“As educators, we play an incredibly important role in positive role modelling and educating children and families alike, and being SunSmart is a responsibility we take very seriously.”
“Our members operate more than 1100 early childhood education and care services across NSW, so if we improve our sun protection behaviors and increase the number of SunSmart services, we’re well on the way to delivering a generation of SunSmart kids,” said Ms O’Neil.
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