Sunsafety

Townsville is a tropical city with over 300 days of sunshine per year, one of the highest rates of any Australian city. Unfortunately, skin cancer rates in Townsville have been found to be amongst the highest in the world. As one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, Townsville City Council and Suncorp have formed a Sunsafety Partnership that will ensure skin cancer is seen as an urgent health issue.

The Sunsafety Partnership commenced in 2005 with the aim of promoting skin cancer awareness and prevention to the broader Townsville community. The success of the Sunsafety Partnership has contributed to the sustainability of the Program. Sunsafety continues to promote and provide sun safe, supportive environments to the Townsville community.

The Sunsafety Program works through a Sunsafety Steering Committee comprising experts from James Cook University, Queensland Health, North Queensland Skin Cancer Network, Townsville City Council and Suncorp to specifically address sun safe priorities in the local community.

Sunsafety Steering Committee Terms of Reference (44kB)

Sunsafety Program Objectives

1. Awareness: To raise awareness of and promote sun safety within the Townsville community.
2. Proactive Intervention: To provide sun safe supportive environments through targeted on-the-ground initiatives and event support.
3. Research: to assist and support relevant research through funding and/or fundraising.

Since its inception, Sunsafety has established itself as a credible community-based initiative and has successfully implemented a variety of local education, communication and awareness campaigns. The attached document is a showcase of some of the community-based initiatives undertaken by Sunsafety.

Sunsafety Achievements Booklet 2005 - 2008 (1.24MB)

Sunsafety Shade Marquee Lending Scheme

In 2006, Sunsafety implemented an innovative portable shade marquee lending program. The Program, is designed to encourage not-for-profit community organisations, sporting groups and schools in the Townsville Local Government area to think about the provision of shade at their outdoor events.

For more information about Sunsafety and the portable shade marquees, download the information below, email Sunsafety or phone (07) 4727 9000.

Sunsafety Shade Marquee Lending Information (103kB)

You can find out more about skin cancer and staying sun safe by clicking the links below:

• Suncorp, Protecting Queenslanders Under the Sun
• Queensland Health, Sun Safety

For more information, please phone 4727 9000 or contact Health Programs

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