Every child deserves this kind of protection

As parents, we do everything in our power to protect our kids. Whether it’s teaching them basic skills like how to cross a road safely, what to eat as part of a balanced diet or how to ‘slip, slop, slap and wrap’, we are always looking for ways to put their safety and wellbeing first.

The team at eftpos and Cancer Council Australia know how important it is to protect kids from the Sun’s damaging UV rays, and last month announced they would be extending the Shade for Secondary Schools program.

What’s the Shade for Secondary Schools program?

The Shade for Secondary Schools program began in 2014 with eftpos donating $1 million to Cancer Council Australia enabling 45 Australian secondary schools to erect shade structures, helping to protect around 28,000 students.

Based on the success of the program, last month eftpos pledged an extra $250,000 to provide shade grants to a further 18 schools across Australia, the first of which will be rolled out later this year.

“eftpos is proud to support this program because skin cancer is such a significant issue in Australia,” said eftpos Managing Director Bruce Mansfield.

“This program is important because it helps to protect Australian students from the sun.”

Professor Sanchia Aranda, CEO of Cancer Council Australia, said the additional shade structures would provide invaluable shade protection for young Australians at a critical time in their life.

“Sadly around 2,000 Australians die of skin cancer each year. We know that skin damage during our childhood and teenage years is more likely to contribute to skin cancer risk later in life. Secondary school hours fall within peak UV periods of the day – so the school playground provides a good opportunity to help protect secondary students’ skin.

“Following the initial success of the eftpos Shade for Secondary School program we are delighted to be working with them again and helping to provide vital UV protection to even more students.”

https://youtu.be/MBreUhwZzrE

Click here to find out more about the eftpos Shade for Secondary Schools program.

Has your school been involved in the Shade for Secondary Schools program? SHARE WITH US in the comments below.

16 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 21 Sep 2016
    11:43 pm
Great initiative – however I do hope children are also spending time in the early morning or late afternoon sun which will not damage skin and in these times without the slip slop slap and hats. Queensland is finding a resurgence of rickets in the children because they are not getting enough sunlight and too much slip slop slap.

- - ella12 said
  - 22 Aug 2016
    12:53 pm
A very good and smart initiative. Well done.

- - rovermum said
  - 22 Aug 2016
    10:33 am
What a fantastic initiative. And good on eftpos for putting some of their fees/profits to good community use.

- - deb_gs said
  - 21 Aug 2016
    10:57 am
There is no one who would criticize this program. I just wish hats were mandatory in my school days.

- - tessie said
  - 20 Aug 2016
    1:33 pm
What a wonderful program to help protect our children at school. I have always believed that I was protecting my children but wasn’t sure how I could protect them during school hours. At our local school, if you don’t have a hat you spend the time in the classroom or on the verandahs only. No playing in the yard

- - mom134803 said
  - 20 Aug 2016
    2:49 am
Great that there is some more focus on high schools. There is quite some attention for primary schools with shaded play areas, limiting of outside play time and the no hat no play rule, but less so at high schools.

- - mom101628 said
  - 18 Aug 2016
    8:56 pm
I’ve never heard of this programme, but most of the schools in our area make sure children are wearing hats and have shaded areas for children to play or eat their lunch, etc.

- - mom160421 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    12:17 pm
This is the first time I’ve heard of this program.

- - mom112217 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    8:41 am
This is an important program that Australians need!

- - mom172741 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    7:51 am
Great they are starting to think about this in high schools. Most primary schools have no hat, no play policies but as soon as they get to high school there is no hat and minimal shade.

- - mom134803 said
  - 17 Aug 2016
    3:37 am
Great program !

- - mum4107 said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    9:47 pm
I know of a few schools involved, which is great

- - mom81879 said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    8:09 pm
An interesting program. Here’s hoping it manages to get through to teenagers the importance of being sun safe

- - BellaB said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    6:05 pm
I haven’t heard of ths before, but it’s great.

- - june11 said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    5:39 pm
I haven’t heard of this previously either.
I noticed that everybody in the photo was wearing a hat. All the schools I know of have a hat policy. No hat – no play outdoors. They have to wear a hat of some type while playing sports too. However, I know of one private school in Adelaide doesn’t let the kids wear the hats to and from school. They have to keep them at school to wear in the yard. One pupil I know has 2 – both are at school. Duty of care – I think not. Some pupils walk to and from school.
Pupils on crossing duty don’t wear their hats either.

- - mom90758 said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    5:31 pm
I’ve never heard of this program before. It looks very worthwhile!!