Students at Dandenong Primary School are getting SunSmart for the summer and staying safe while playing outdoors.

They got the thumbs up from Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, who today congratulated the school for their SunSmart focus at a special school assembly to mark the start of Term 4.

Ms Williams was joined by SunSmart Ambassador Catherine Andrews, who spoke to the student group about the importance of being safe while staying active and playing outdoors.

It was the first assembly held in the school’s hall in 2016, following building works by the Victorian Government to repair damage after a fire earlier this year.

Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world for both males and females. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. In Victoria, more than 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are treated annually.

To comply with SunSmart guidelines, schools are required to use sun protection measures from September to the end of April to ensure students and staff stay protected from UV.

SunSmart works with primary and secondary schools, early childhood centres, workplaces, health professionals, local government and sporting clubs and other organisations to promote a healthy approach to UV exposure.

For more information on how you can be SunSmart, visit www.sunsmart.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams:

“It’s wonderful to see Dandenong Primary School taking the lead in teaching our next generation to be SunSmart and to stay safe while being active and playing outdoors.”

“In Victoria, more than 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year.”

Quotes attributable to SunSmart Ambassador, Catherine Andrews:

“Staying SunSmart can save a life. Kids need to learn this from an early age – and the teachers Dandenong Primary are making sure of it.”