Welcome to the December 2011 edition of SunSmart News. There has been lots happening, including the launch of the new Sun Protection Alert, SunSmart Week and development of the new youth campaign. So read on...

 

 

Update on the merger of HSC with ALAC

HSC and Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) will merge into a new health promotion agency, which will come into effect on 1 July 2012. It will also include some health promotion functions currently carried out by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Legislation (the Crown Entities Reform Bill) outlining the functions of the new agency was tabled in Parliament on 30 September 2011. The Bill, which enables this change (as well as a number of other structural changes to the government sector), had its first reading on 4 October 2011 and has now been referred to the Government Administration Committee. Submissions on the bill can be emailed to the Select Committee office. There is no closing date for submissions currently.

The MoH is co-ordinating the implementation of the merge which is being governed by a Steering Group that includes the Chairs of both the HSC and ALAC.

New alert to help protect Kiwis’ skin this summer

New Zealanders now have a new, easy-to-use Sun Protection Alert that tells them when they need to protect their skin from the sun, with specific reference to where in the country they live. The Sun Protection Alert was launched on 1 November 2011 and can be found on the weather page in daily newspapers as well as on the MetService and SunSmart websites during daylight saving months. Contact Wayde if you want to know more about the alert.

Youth sun safety campaign 'Don’t Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin'

HSC is developing a new campaign based on research undertaken by the Centre for Health Initiatives (CHI), University of Wollongong in Australia. During the summer of 2009/10, CHI ran a programme that used messages relevant to teenagers to improve the sun protection behaviours of 15 to 16-year-olds, in particular.

The programme was based on research identifying that the main barrier to youth sun safety practices was attitudes to tanning (tan seen as desirable), and youth not taking action to protect themselves, even though they are aware of the risk of excessive sun exposure. Research also showed that some of the approaches that might work with youth are re-branding sun protection as appearance-enhancing behaviour (rather than cancer-preventing) and a focus on short-term gains (rather than long-term risk of illness).

The CHI's tagline was "Don’t let the sun get under your skin", and used UV cameras to show young people what skin damage they had already developed.

In July 2011, HSC consumer tested this campaign with teenagers along with three other campaigns. Don't Let the Sun Get Under Your Skin was deemed by teenagers to be the most effective campaign to use in New Zealand. HSC is launching its own version of this programme in January 2012. For more information on the campaign, please contact either Wayde and Laurianne.

Update on sunbed action

Guided by the Sunbed Action Group, MelNet has written to New Zealand professional colleges and associations, seeking support for MelNet's position that the existing voluntary standard for sunbeds should become mandatory. The Action Group includes organisations such as the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Melanoma Foundation, MelNet and New Zealand Dermatological Society. Contact Betsy Marshall, MelNet Coordinator for more information.

Find research news with ease

The HSC website has been revamped and the research section updated to make it easier to find the information you want. Click here to view the research that HSC has undertaken in the areas of sun safety, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco control and gambling harm.

Other happenings

Activities that took place during SunSmart Week

Pharmacy Guild - Pharmacy Guild supported SunSmart Week by running a SunSmart window display competition in member pharmacies. Check out the winning displays on the SunSmart website

Pharmaceutical Society Skin Cancer card - This card has been updated and sent to all members of the Society to give to their customers.

Keeping children safe in the sun  - HSC provided kindergartens, early childhood centres and Plunket throughout the country with posters, brochures, stickers and balloons to put up in their centres during SunSmart Week.

Melanoma Foundation Newsletter -  HSC sponsored the October issue of the newsletter, which included sun protection advice for health professionals, to provide to patients, and research information.

Visique - HSC partnered with Visique to run window display competitions throughout the country.