My name is Kerith, I am a palliative care doctor, a mum and I am really concerned about the lack of support for sunscreen reapplication during the day in Australian schools. In my work as a palliative care doctor I have personally witnessed the devastation that metastatic melanoma causes, including taking the lives of patients as young as in their 20s. It is a terrible disease.

Now as a mum of two young children I witness my school aged child developing more and more sun damage throughout the year, despite my best efforts and diligent sunscreen application in the mornings.  I also worry for my younger child who is due to start school this year.  This is because there are no procedures in place to ensure that children reapply sunscreen in the middle of the day.  By the time lunch break comes children are spending an hour in the sun without any sun protection except a hat.  On discussions with other parents this is a widespread problem, and I am not alone in these concerns.  

I’m calling for Australian schools to be required to dedicate 5 minutes a day at the start of lunch time for students to reapply sunscreen.

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.  2 out of 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime and melanoma remains the most common cancer among Australians aged 15-29.  Around 2000 Australians die from skin cancer every year.  It is well recognised that early sun exposure is a major risk factor for developing skin cancer. 

Schools are not currently required to provide dedicated sunscreening time.  Many schools have a policy of reminding students to reapply sunscreen before lunch, but this is not always followed consistently.  Reminding students rather than having dedicated time for sunscreening requires children as young as 4 or 5 to have the impulse control to take time away from their play to sit and apply sunscreen. This is not a developmentally appropriate expectation for primary school aged children, who don’t yet have the capacity required to engage in long term risk avoidant behaviours without substantial support. 

We would like to see all schools required to provide 5 minutes at the start of lunch where students have dedicated time in the classroom to apply sunscreen.  This is a natural extension and necessary component of making our schools sun safe.  

These 5 minutes will save lives.