Cancer Council Victoria has welcomed today's $15
million commitment from the Labor Party that would fund new initiatives under
the iconic and world-renowned SunSmart program.
Today, Opposition Leader Dan Andrews announced that if
elected a Labor government would spend $15 million over four years to ensure Victoria
continues to lead the world in ultraviolet radiation (UV) protection. Of that,
$10 million will go towards improving shade protection in public areas like
playgrounds, beaches and parks, and $5 million will be invested to support
successful SunSmart campaigns.
Helping
people cut their cancer risk was one of the election priorities that Cancer
Council Victoria identified in July. Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper
said SunSmart had a proven track record having prevented more than 103,000 skin
cancers in Victoria between 1988 and 2003, and thus saving 1000 lives.
“In a given week more than 780 Victorians will be diagnosed with a new
skin cancer, and eight will die. Australia still
has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, but this is also one
of the most preventable cancers,” Mr Harper said.
“The good news is that you
can reduce risk of skin cancer at any age, whether you are 16 or 60, with good
sun protection behaviours.”
SunSmart is also one of the most cost effective
prevention programs, with every dollar spent on the program resulting in a
$3.60 saving to the Victorian public health system.
“SunSmart
saves lives, and it saves us all money,” he said.
SunSmart
facts:
- The
SunSmart program, jointly funded by Cancer
Council Victoria and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) since 1988, leads the world
in UV protection.
- SunSmart
works with schools, early childhood services, workplaces, local
government, sporting organisations and communities in educating and
promoting UV protection and early detection of skin cancer.
- While
melanoma incidence in Victoria continues to rise, there are now falling rates
in people younger than 40 years, consistent with growing up with SunSmart behaviours.
- More
than 430,000 Victorian primary school children practice SunSmart behaviours and
90 per cent of Victorian primary schools are SunSmart members.
- In
1988 only 2 per cent of Victorian preschool children wore hats – this has now
increased to 97 per cent.
- The
SunSmart message has reached more than 30,000 outdoor workers, significantly
improving knowledge about UV as a work place hazard and how workers can protect
themselves.
Population
data shows that between 1988 and 2010 Victorians:
- wearing
hats on summer weekends increased from 18 per cent to 44 per cent.
- using
sunscreen has increased from 21 per cent to 37 per cent in adults. Nine out of
every 10 parents also report using sunscreen to protect their children.
- who
prefer no suntan has increased from just 18 per cent to 49 per cent (in young
people)
- who
desire a moderate to dark tan has dropped from 75 per cent to 39 per cent (in
young people).