REPS SUNSMART POLICY

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to encourage behaviours at REPS to minimise the risk of skin and eye damage and skin cancer.

This policy provides guidelines to:

SCOPE

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

POLICY

Excessive exposure 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 radiation:

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 and above (typically from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria).  Information about the daily local sun protection times is available via the SunSmart widget on the school’s website, the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au.

REPS has the following measures in place to help reduce the risk of excessive UV sun exposure for staff and students. 

Shade

REPS will provide sufficient options for shelter and trees to provide shade on school grounds, particularly in places such as: 

When building works or grounds maintenance is conducted at REPS 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. 


Sun protective uniform/clothing

REPS 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:

REPS’s school uniform and dress code includes sun-protective clothing, including:

From Term 4 to end of Term 1, all students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the August to April time period, by parent or student choice.

Staff and students are encouraged to wear hat styles that protect the face, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket.

 Students are required to wear a school hat or another hat style that protects the face, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket. Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing or a hat may be asked to play in the shade or in a suitable area protected from the sun.

Sunscreen 

REPS encourages all staff and students to apply SPF30 (or higher) 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 according to manufacturer’s instructions.

REPS has strategies in place to remind students to apply sunscreen before going outdoors [for example i.e. reminder notices, sunscreen monitors, sunscreen buddies].

At REPS students are welcome to attend the staff room to access sunscreen. Staff and students who may suffer from allergic reactions from certain types of sunscreen are encouraged to contact Jess Brown to implement a management plan to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction at school.

Staff and families should role model SunSmart behaviour and are encouraged to apply SPF 30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen when outside. 

Sunglasses

Where practical REPS 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.

 

Curriculum

Students at our school are encouraged to make healthy choices, and are supported to understand the benefits and risks of sun exposure. REPS will address sun and UV safety education as part of [insert curriculum details here, for example, through PDHPE lessons in years 7 and 9].

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

Engaging students, staff and families 

SunSmart 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 and staff are provided with information, ideas and practical strategies to support UV safety at school and at home. REPS may provide families and staff with information through [insert communication strategies i.e. newsletters, noticeboards, school website, school assemblies].


FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

REVIEW CYCLE

This policy was last updated on June 2020 and is scheduled for review on June 2024.