Playing it safe in the sun

THE sun’s out and so is the skin cancer message for NSW schoolkids.

Children will be taught how their choices at a young age could help them avoid skin cancer as part of an updated program being rolled out in the state’s schools from today.

The partnership between the Cancer Council NSW and the Department of Education will try to help students make healthy, safe and proactive choices to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

“Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and melanoma is the most common cancer affecting young Australians aged 15-24,” CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW David Currow said.

“We want students to learn about the dangers of sun exposure, but we also want them to know how easy skin cancer is to prevent.”