This information provides guidance to principals regarding the development and implementation of the school sun safety strategy to protect students from the dangers of over-exposure to the sun.
The development and implementation of this strategy involves a consultative process with the school community, including school staff, students, parents and parents and citizens' association.
Consult with the school community on the development of a sun safety strategy that:
- provides effective educational programs on sun safety and preventive measures
- maximises the use of available shade for outdoor activities
- provides flexible planning of activities to reduce, as far as practicable, time spent by students in the sun between 10.00am and 2.00pm
- considers sun protection when determining or reviewing school uniform designs
- requires wearing of protective clothing, including appropriate hats, when in the sun during the school day, except where the wearing of hats may pose a risk to students' safety due to reduced visibility or interfering with activity skills (e.g. playing soccer)
- requires primary school students to wear swim shirts during all water-based activities, with the exception of competitions and carnivals
- encourages the wearing of swim shirts during all water-based activities in secondary schools
- requires all state schools to provide an SPF 30+ broad spectrum water based sunscreen for students to use on uncovered areas of the skin, such as the face and the back of the hands, for all outdoor activities
- considers sun protection in relation to parents and citizens' association projects and activities
- promotes the importance of parents, teachers, ancillary staff and voluntary helpers as role models for students in relation to sun protection strategies
- involves consultation with the school community to examine the feasibility of recovering costs incurred in supplying sunscreen in line with
state education fees.
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