May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a timely reminder that sun safety still matters all year round in Australia. While sunscreen is often associated with summer, UV radiation can damage skin whenever the UV Index reaches harmful levels, including on cool, cloudy or mild days.
For workplaces, healthcare providers, aged care facilities, schools, childcare centres, hospitality venues and households, sun protection is part of everyday prevention. It supports staff wellbeing, patient and resident care, student safety and community health.
Cancer Council Australia recommends using sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. This means Australians should check the UV Index, not just the temperature, before spending time outdoors.
Why does sun safety matter all year round?
In Australia, sun exposure is not only a summer concern. UV radiation cannot be seen or felt, and it is different from heat. This means people can still experience skin damage when the weather does not feel hot.
This is especially relevant for organisations where daily tasks involve incidental outdoor exposure. Staff may walk between buildings, supervise outdoor play, assist residents in garden areas, complete deliveries, support patient transport or take breaks outside.
For employers and care providers, practical sun safety can help reduce risk and support workplace health and safety. For individuals and families, it encourages simple habits that can minimise UV exposure over time.
What are the five steps?
The Australian sun safety message Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide remains a clear framework for UV protection. Cancer Council Australia explains that using multiple forms of sun protection together is more effective than relying on one measure alone.
Slip on protective clothing
Protective clothing helps create a physical barrier between skin and UV radiation. Long sleeves, collars and closely woven fabrics can help reduce exposure, especially for outdoor workers, educators, carers, volunteers and people spending extended time outside.
Slop on SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen
Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen when UV levels are 3 or above. Sunscreen should be applied to clean, dry skin before going outdoors and reapplied as directed, especially after sweating, swimming or towel drying.
In shared environments, sunscreen is most effective when it is visible and easy to access. The Livingstone Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+, 4 Hours Water Resistant, 1 Litre Pump Bottle is a practical option for staff rooms, first aid stations, site offices, reception areas, aged care activity spaces, school administration areas and outdoor work zones. Its 1 litre pump format supports shared use, while the product page identifies it as SPF50+, 4 hours water resistant, non-greasy and PABA-free.
Slap on a broad-brimmed hat
A broad-brimmed hat helps protect areas commonly exposed to UV, including the face, scalp, ears and neck. The Livingstone Sun Hat, Bucket Style, Double Sided, Blue Beige can support everyday sun safety by providing a soft organic cotton, mid-brim option designed to help keep sun glare off during outdoor activities. This is important for people working outdoors, supporting outdoor activities or moving between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Seek shade
Shade can reduce direct UV exposure during breaks, outdoor play, patient transport, aged care outings, school sport and community events. Shade should be used with other sun protection measures, because UV can reflect from surfaces such as concrete, water, glass and sand.
Slide on sunglasses
Close-fitting or wraparound sunglasses that meet Australian Standards can help protect the eyes from UV exposure. They are useful for outdoor staff, drivers, sports participants and people working in bright or reflective environments.
How can workplaces support sun safety?
Sun safety works best when organisations make it easy to follow. Clear communication, accessible supplies and routine reminders can help staff, visitors, patients, residents and students make safer choices.
Workplaces can support sun safety by checking the UV Index before outdoor activities, providing sunscreen in high-use areas, encouraging reapplication, promoting hats and protective clothing, creating shaded areas where possible, and including skin protection in WHS, first aid and wellbeing communications.
For healthcare and care environments, sunscreen access can support outings, transport, garden activities and community participation. For schools and workplaces, visible sunscreen stations can remind people to check the UV and apply protection before heading outside.
Where should sunscreen be placed?
Sunscreen should be placed where people naturally prepare for outdoor activity. Useful locations include first aid stations, staff rooms, sign-in areas, reception desks, site offices, outdoor work zones, school sports areas, childcare exits and aged care recreation spaces.
This approach is particularly useful for teams who move between indoor and outdoor areas throughout the day. It also helps make sun protection a normal part of routine care, rather than something people only think about during planned outdoor events.
When should people check their skin?
Skin checks are an important part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Australians should get to know their skin and look for anything new, changing or unusual. This may include a new spot, a mole that changes in size, shape or colour, or a sore that does not heal.
If something looks different, people should seek advice from a GP, dermatologist or skin cancer clinic. Early attention can make a meaningful difference.
Sun safety starts with preparation
Skin Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that sun safety still matters all year round. In Australia, UV risk is not defined by temperature alone. Checking the UV Index, using sun protection when UV is 3 or above, and making protective supplies accessible are practical steps for workplaces, care settings and households.
With essential sun safety supplies such as sunscreen and protective accessories, healthcare, aged care, education and workplace teams can make everyday sun protection easier to follow. Livingstone supports Australian organisations with practical products that help protect staff, patients, residents, students and communities all year round.
References
Cancer Council Australia 2026, UV Index, Cancer Council Australia, viewed May 2026, https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/uv-index
Cancer Council Australia 2026, Five SunSmart steps, Cancer Council Australia, viewed May 2026, https://www.cancer.org.au/save-your-skin/five-sunsmart-steps
Cancer Council Australia 2026, All about sunscreen and sun safety, Cancer Council Australia, viewed 11 May 2026, https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/sunscreen
