Page Contents

• Purpose, Scope

• Shade

• Sun protective clothing

• Hats

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Curriculum

• Staff role-modelling and OHS

• Families and visitors

• Community engagement

• Communication of this policy

• Further information and resources

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to support sun protection behaviours at Templestowe College to minimise risk of health problems from sun overexposure, including skin cancer.

This policy provides guidelines to:

• support staff and students to use a combination of sun protection measures when UV index levels are 3 or above (generally mid-August – end of April)

• ensure that there are outdoor environments that provide adequate shade for students and staff

• ensure students are encouraged and supported to develop independent sun protection skills to help them to be responsible for their own protection

• support our school’s strategies to meet its duty of care and occupational health and safety obligations to minimise harmful UV exposure and associated harm for students and staff.

Scope

This policy applies to all school activities, including camps and excursions. It is applicable to all students and staff.

Policy

Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause health problems including sunburn, damage to skin and eyes, and an increased risk of skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.

UV radiation:

• cannot be seen or felt

• can be reflected off surfaces such as buildings, asphalt, concrete, water, sand and snow

• can pass through light clouds

• varies in intensity across the year (highest in Victoria from mid-August – end of April)

• peaks during school hours

Sun safety is a shared responsibility and staff, parents and students are encouraged to implement a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV levels reach 3 or above.  Information about the daily local sun protection times is available on the school’s ‘Local Weather Updates’ Teams page and email, the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au.

Templestowe College has the following measures in place for all outdoor activities during the daily sun protection times to help reduce the risk of over-exposure to UV radiation for staff and students.

Templestowe College provides sufficient options for shelter and trees to provide shade on school grounds, particularly in places where students congregate at lunch and recess. Students will be permitted to access appropriate classrooms and corridors during recess and lunchtime. Students also have access to shaded areas in the following areas:

• Astroturf

• Canteen

• The Hub

• The Rose Garden

• Permaculture Garden

Students are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outdoors during peak sun protection times, particularly if they do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing.

When building works or grounds maintenance is conducted at Templestowe College that may impact on the level of shading available to staff and students, a review of the shaded areas available will be conducted and further shading installed as appropriate.

Templestowe College recommends that from mid-August to end of April, and whenever UV levels reach 3 and above, students come to school wearing sun-protective clothing such as:

• loose, cool, densely woven fabric

• shirts with a collar and/or high necklines

• tops with elbow length or long sleeves

• longer style shorts, dresses and skirts

• rash vests or t-shirts for outdoor swimming activities.

As we are a secondary school, we expect students to take responsibility for their sun safety by wearing a hat during outdoor activities and adopting other sun protection measures such as wearing sunscreen or using shade.

Templestowe College encourages all staff and students to apply SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen daily whenever UV levels reach 3 and above. Sunscreen should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outdoors, and reapplied every two hours (or more frequently if sweating or swimming). This recommendation is part of the school dress code.

Templestowe College encourages students and staff to bring their own SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen to school and also supplies SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen for staff and students to use and it is readily accessible from the Hub, Swing, excursion kits and from the PE Faculty office.

Where reasonably practical, Templestowe College encourages students and staff engaged in outdoor activities to wear close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard 1067 (Sunglasses: Category 2, 3 or 4) and cover as much of the eye area as possible.

Students at our school are encouraged to make healthy choices. They are supported to understand effects of sun exposure and are encouraged to be involved in initiatives to promote and model sun protection measures to the whole school. Templestowe College will address sun protection and UV safety education as part of HPE lessons at Entry level and as part of all sports classes and as information given to all sports teams.

Staff are encouraged to access resources, tools, and professional learning to enhance their knowledge and capacity to promote sun protection behaviour across the school community.

UV radiation exposure is considered as part of our school’s risk management and assessment for all outdoor events and activities, i.e. UV radiation protection strategies are included in school camp activities, excursions, sports days and interschool sports events.

Families and visitors participating in and attending outdoor school activities are encouraged to:

• wear a sun-protective hat, covering clothing and, if practical, sunglasses;

• apply SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen; and

• seek shade whenever possible when outdoors.

Sun protection behaviour is regularly reinforced and promoted to the whole school community through newsletters, school website/intranet, staff and parent meetings, school assemblies, student and teacher activities and at student enrolment/new staff orientation.

Families, students and staff are provided with information, ideas and practical strategies to support UV safety at school and at home. Templestowe College may provide information through the weekly Next Week @TC email, school assemblies and our online platforms.

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following way:

• Available publicly on our school’s website

• Included in staff induction processes

• Reminder posted in Next Week @TC annual

• Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

• Sun and UV Protection Policy

• Heat Health

• Outdoor Activities and Working Outdoors

• Risk Management – Schools

• Shade Sails

• Student Dress Code

SunSmart and Cancer Council Victoria.

• Secondary schools free education resources and sample policies.

• Sunscreen reactions