Traralgon Early Learning Centre is now a SunSmart CentreThe Traralgon Early Learning Centre is proudly displaying its newly accredited SunSmart status By Latrobe City Council - 16th February 2001 - Back to News The Traralgon Early Learning Centre is proudly displaying its newly accredited SunSmart status on a prominent sign outside the Franklin Street building; but Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, said the sign itself was not as important as the way the SunSmart message was being practiced.
Councillor Hanning said the Traralgon Early Learning Centre was helping to make today’s children become part of the Australian SunSmart generation, with many SunSmart strategies successfully introduced at the Centre.
“To achieve SunSmart Centre status, centres must include sun protection strategies into their policies, programmed activities, the physical environment of their centre, and the behaviour of their children, staff and parents,” Cr Hanning explained.
“These strategies include requirements that all children attending the centre are required to wear a SunSmart hat; that ‘no hat – no play’, and ‘play in the shade’ rules are adopted,” Cr Hanning said.
“Centres have to alter outdoor times to reduce exposure to the sun during the high risk period (11am to 3pm daylight savings time); plan for and build shade structures in centre grounds, make sunscreen available for children and staff, and undertake tree planting activities to provide shelter from the sun.
“In addition, the Traralgon Early Learning Centre holds special SunSmart activity days, provides SunSmart tips in newsletters, and holds activities such as hat wearing days, hat parades and SunSmart picnics, Cr Hanning said.
“The sun exposure that children get in Australia, contributes to their risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers later in life. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world with two out of three Australians developing skin cancer,” Cr Hanning added.
“SunSmart Centres contribute to the fight against skin cancer by teaching children how to protect themselves from the sun, and thus reducing their risk of skin cancer.
“Children, staff and parents at the Traralgon Early Learning Centre will continue working together to keep the Centre – SunSmart. However, its important that we all, parents, carers, and in fact all adults, recognise our responsibilities as role models to children, and become more SunSmart ourselves,” Cr Hanning concluded.
Photo 1: SunSmart children
Photo 2: Aileen McFarlane, Team Leader, Traralgon Early Learning Centre, Occasional Care
Media Enquiries:
Cr. Tony Hanning, Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 373 577
Cr. Brendan Jenkins, Deputy Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 374 590
Ms. Penny Holloway, Chief Executive Officer,
tel. 5173 1401 or 0417 557 103
Jeremy Bein, Public Relations and Communications Officer,
tel. 5173 1468
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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