SunSmart is a free program partnering with primary schools, early childhood education and care services, and out of school hours services to develop and implement a best-practice sun protection policy.
Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer in Australia.
UV is not like the sun’s light which we see, or the sun’s warmth (infrared radiation) which we feel. Our senses cannot detect UV so it can be damaging our skin without us knowing.
The UV index provides a measure of the intensity of the sun’s UV radiation levels for any given day. The UV index ranges from 0 (none, e.g. at night) to 11+, which is extreme.
In NSW the UV is high enough (i.e. at least 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin at least 10 months of the year so it’s important to remember that sun protection is something we need all year round, not just in the warmer months.
Download the SunSmart App, or embed the SunSmart Widget onto your website to find out your daily local UV levels and sun protections times.
Check out our new SunSmart hat-wearing toolkit!
