Two out of three Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. These extraordinary numbers underscore just how important it is for all Australians to understand the risks of sun exposure and how they can change their behaviour to minimise that risk.
Dr Suzanne Dobbinson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Cancer Council Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer. Alongside her colleagues, Dr Dobbinson has been working to help protect Australians from UV for two decades through the Cancer Council's Sun Protection Surveys.
By measuring and understanding sun behaviour, we can tailor skin cancer education programs effectively and give people the tools to manage their own sun behaviour and choices."
Dr Suzanne Dobbinson
Secondly, and most importantly, the Survey helps organisations like Cancer Council design education and awareness campaigns that target those people at high risk of skin cancer.
Two out of three Australians develop skin cancer so more needs to be done before it’s too late for the current generation."
Dr Suzanne Dobbinson
For Cancer Council researchers like Dr Dobbinson, profiling the results of the National Sun Protection Survey enables the community to be reminded of just how important sun safety is, with the ultimate aim of reducing the impact of skin cancer on our community.