Kia ora and welcome to the second issue of the HSC’s SunSmart newsletter

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Moving times for SunSmart

After 14 years in the same building  HSC (Health Sponsorship Council) has moved. We are now located at Level 3, 181 Wakefield Street,
Wellington. All of our contact details remain the same except for our
PO Box post code, it is now Wellington 6011.

The office will be closed from lunch time on the 23rd of December for the festive break.  We will be back to business as usual from 8.30am on 7th January 2010. 

Merry Christmas

MelNet Invite

MelNet is a network of professionals working together to reduce the incidence and impact of melanoma in New Zealand.
Health promoters are invited to become members of MelNet so that they can participate in the achievement of the network objectives, which are:

• To be involved in strategic change projects
• To be the umbrella network for melanoma control in New Zealand, supporting others working in melanoma control/management
• To facilitate and promote the advancement of professional practice and coordination in melanoma control
• To provide a home for associated organisations and committees

If you haven’t already, we encourage all health promoters and members of the NZ skin cancer control community to become members of Melnet.
Keep your self up to date with developments with the management and control of melanoma in New Zealand by clicking on the following link.

Subscribe to Melnet

SunSmart Week

Congratulations to everyone who supported the national SunSmart Week campaign. Despite the inclement weather experienced across the country, the promotion of SunSmart Week was a success if measured by the considerable amount of quality media exposure created by the skin cancer control sector and commercial organisations.

Of course the work doesn’t stop there. The challenge is to extend the awareness campaign throughout the Summer and to elevate the need for SunSmart behaviour to top of mind for the public when planning their holidays and daily actvities.

Click read more, for information outlining in detail what HSC has planned for the promotion of SunSmart activity over the summer period.

Summer 09/10 - Advertising

In mid-December the SunSmart summer campaign launches. Summer messages are similar to those promoted in SunSmart Week, but there is a stronger focus on protecting children from sunburn.

Download the Media plan overview here

Click on read more for details of advertising we have planned for the summer period.

Public relations

To date things have been very busy on the public relations front. As we progress into the summer campaign, we will circulate the following releases:

• Early December - Advising regions’ sunshine hours in November and urging people to take care in the sun.
• December - Summer campaign release, reiterating the ‘Never let your child get sunburnt’ message and featuring Adine Wilson.
• January - UVR levels in January – pointing out that UVR is at its peak in January, making it one of the worst months for sunburn.
• January/February - Two further releases, to be confirmed.

If you would like further information, please don't hesitate to email Wayde Beckman  on ph 04 472 5777, cell 027 289 6680

Key SunSmart Messages this Summer

• Avoid sunburn.
• Never let your children get sunburnt.
• Sunburn in childhood is strongly linked to melanoma in later life.
 

The full list of the SunSmart key messages can be viewed by clicking on read more.

Media Relations

We have put together  an information pack to assist you in your media relations activity. It highlights the important role media play in promoting health messages and initiatives and the work that can be done to increase the positive coverage you can gain in your local media channels. Included in the pack are tips on:

Click on "Read more" for some great information on dealing with the media.

SunSmart Resources

The SunSmart resources stable is stocked full of ways to assist with health promotion activities over the summer including the SunSmart Fact Pack.

Based on the Being SunSmart handbook - The SunSmart Fact Pack is a simple, easy-to-use guide to being SunSmart. It includes information on:
• myths and facts about sun exposure
• the sun protection golden rules - slip, slop, slap and wrap
• UVR and the New Zealand environment
• melanoma and other skin cancers
• tanning - solariums and self-tan products
• protecting children, communities and outdoor workers from over-exposure to the sun.
Your free copy can be downloaded from the SunSmart website or if you would like a hard copy contact Wayde via wayde@hsc.org.nz

Check out the resources and merchandise page on the SunSmart website

Research and Evaluation

A number of projects will be undertaken over the coming summer to support the efforts of the SunSmart programme. We’ll communicate in future issues of the SunSmart newsletter the results of the following projects:

• Sun Exposure Survey 2010 – this joint HSC / CSNZ project is a redevelopment of the survey formerly known as the Triennial Sun Protection Survey which was last undertaken in 2006. The nationwide survey will provide a picture of sun exposure risks and prevention behaviours, as well as experience of sunburn.

• ‘Never let your child get sunburnt’ Campaign Survey.

• UVI research – based on some of qualitative research to date and discussions had by the UVI Working Group, additional work is being conducted with the aim of filling some of the information gaps that exist around this very complex project.

SunSmart Newsletter - Previous Issue

In the last issue of the SunSmart newsletter we gave details on the paid media activity HSC planned for SunSmart Week. We also provided information on results from the HSC Parent & Caregivers Survey, the HSC Lead UVI Tool redevelopment and developments around MelNet and solaria regulation. For those who missed it the previous issue is still available to