Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and it is the most common cancer affecting young Australians.
In 2021, an estimated 4,941 NSW residents were diagnosed with melanoma. That figure was projected to increase to 5,655 in 2023, resulting in an estimated 497 deaths across the state each year.1
Overexposure to UV radiation from the sun causes more than 95% of skin cancers.
The good news? Skin cancers can be easily prevented by always protecting your skin when in the sun in five simple ways:
SLIP
on protective clothing
SLOP
on SPF50+ sunscreen
SLAP
on a wide-brim hat
SEEK
shade
SLIDE
on sunglasses
It's also important to know your skin and get a skin check if you notice any changes.
How we're working to prevent skin cancer
Cancer Institute NSW is working to prevent and limit the impact of skin cancer in NSW.
Guided by the NSW Cancer Plan and the NSW Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy, our Skin Cancer Prevention Program focuses on three goals to help make an impact:
- To embed skin cancer prevention across the public sector, private sector and community.
- To improve access to quality shade at work, school, play and in public spaces as part of a healthier built environment.
- To increase the adoption of sun/UV protection behaviours among those with low sun protection behaviours, those at high risk of skin cancer, and the broader community.
Research shows that skin cancer prevention campaigns are effective. Over eight years, we have contributed to saving more than 100 lives, reducing skin cancer cases by 13,174 in NSW, and saving the state over $60 million.2
We hope that by working together, we can significantly reduce the impact of skin cancer for people in NSW.
In this section
Learn more about your skin and how the sun effects it to help reduce your risk of skin cancer.
There are simple ways to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Learn how to protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet radiation.
Find out how you can prevent your skin from melanoma—the most common cancer among young Australians.
Quality shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75%. Learn more about shade as a planning and design priority for skin cancer prevention in NSW.
Find out what you can do to protect yourself and your workers from UV radiation and skin cancer.
Sun and UV at School is a suite of new evidence-based teaching resources bringing skin cancer prevention to life for school students across NSW.
Our vision is to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in NSW. Learn more about the Cancer Institute NSW's Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy.
1. Cancer Institute NSW, Cancer statistics NSW: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/research-and-data/cancer-data-and-statistics/cancer-statistics-nsw#// Accessed 28/02/2024
2. Doran, et al. (2016). Benefit Cost Analysis of Three Skin Cancer Public Education Mass-Media Campaigns Implemented in New South Wales, Australia. PLoS ONE. 11(1): e0147665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147665.
