This project aims to collect and analyse data from population surveys on the prevalence of sunburn and sun protection behaviours in the Australian population. Such surveys provide insights to inform the design of skin cancer prevention policies, programs and campaigns, including for priority target audiences. They can also monitor change over time in behaviours, providing they can adjust for key weather variables. The project includes analysis of new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Multi-Purpose Household Survey conducted in the summer of 2023-2024. It also includes studies conducted using the National Sun Protection telephone survey which was conducted triennially between the summers of 2003-2004 and 2016-2017 inclusive. The study methods permitted examination of time trends in the prevalence of sun protection behaviours and sunburn and evaluation of the SunSmart program, after adjusting for temperature, UV levels and other weather variables. This and other research programs contribute to Cancer Council Victoria’s designation as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Ultraviolet Radiation.
CBRC staff
Dr Clover Maitland, Dr Tamara Tabbakh, Dr Anna Nicholson, Prof Melanie Wakefield
Collaborators
Cancer Council Australia colleagues, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Funding
Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Council Victoria. Early survey rounds of the National Sun Protection survey were part-funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, and Cancer Australia.
Years
2003 - present
