In 2021, Cancer Institute NSW led a study into the availability and quality of natural and built shade in NSW local council and school playgrounds. While 4 in 5 community playgrounds had at least some shade, 19% had no shade at all. This study provides an important benchmark for NSW, and demonstrates a clear need for improvements in access to quality shade. Surveys with community users supported this view, with 32% of respondents stating they were very unsatisfied with the shade at their local playground.
Read more about Cancer Institute NSW’s Benchmarking Shade in NSW playgrounds project
Identifying the most effective strategies to increase shade in playgrounds
In 2022, Cancer Council NSW and the Cancer Institute NSW partnered with the Sax Institute to explore how we can increase shade in NSW public playgrounds.
What’s it all about?
This project aimed to develop a prioritised plan of work to improve the availability and quality of shade in our public playgrounds across NSW.
Why playgrounds?
Playgrounds are important spaces where children, caregivers and the wider community gather.
What did we do?
Phase 1: A review of the global evidence for strategies to increase shade in public playgrounds was undertaken. This literature review identified 6 types of strategies to increase shade. These strategies are demonstrated in the image below.
Image developed by the Sax Institute
Phase 2: A short discussion paper summarising the literature was developed to share with built environment professionals, shade specialists and advocates as part of an online workshop in March 2023 to explore opportunities, barriers and strategic approaches to increasing access to quality shade in NSW.
The workshop resulted in the identification of 4 priority areas for NSW to progress in order to help improve access to quality shade, and reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation in our communities. These were:
- Set an Australian Standard for shade in play spaces
- Build advocacy
- Set shade targets
- Link into existing local government strategies
A workshop summary of these areas plus the event was shared with participants following the workshop.
What’s next?
The ideas generated in this workshop came at an exciting time, with the launch of the NSW Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023-2030 in late 2023. These ideas are now part of the NSW Shade Working Group’s priorities, as they outline the work plans to support the implementation of the new Strategy.