New data has revealed only half of Australians are using three or more forms of sun protection when exposed to the sun during peak UV times.
The study, which was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and funded by the Cancer Council, examined the sun protection behaviours of more than 8500 people from November 2023 to February 2024.
The research found women were more likely than men to implement three or more sun protection behaviours, such as wearing sunscreen and wearing a broad-brimmed hat.
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People who spent more than 15 minutes outdoors in peak UV times were more likely to implement three or more sun protection behaviours if they would burn and not tan after 30 minutes of sun exposure and were living in outer regional and remote Australia.
Education and income levels also appeared to play a role in sun safety behaviours.
Those who had a bachelor degree or above were more likely to practice sun safety than those who finished school at Year 11 or below, while living in areas of least disadvantage were more likely to protect themselves.
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Chair of the Cancer Council’s National Skin Cancer Committee, Professor Anne Cust, said the research indicates that many Australians still aren’t being safe in the sun.
“We want people to make sun protection a part of their daily routine, so that they’re protected from incidental sun exposure,” Cust said.
“Overexposure to UV radiation from the sun is the greatest risk factor for skin cancer, and we know that sun exposure and skin damage is cumulative, leading to a higher risk of skin cancer later in life.
“However, it’s never too late to prevent further damage.
“That’s why we need to remind all Australians of the simple steps they can take to reduce their skin cancer risk every day.”
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with almost 19,000 people estimated to be diagnosed with melanoma this year, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The Cancer Council is urging Australians to use all five forms of sun protection when the UV is three or above.
This includes slipping on protective clothing, slopping on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen, slapping on a broad-brimmed hat, seeking shade and sliding on sunglasses.
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