Survey Finds Gaps in Australians' Sun Safety Knowledge

Cancer Council Australia's new survey shows nearly half of Australians have only a limited understanding of sun-safe behaviour.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Youth

Survey Finds Gaps in Australians' Sun Safety Knowledge

Live Poll

Do you plan to use sunscreen or a hat more often this summer?

Cancer Council Australia released survey data showing 48 per cent of Australians have limited understanding of sun-safe behaviour. The findings also show younger Australians are more likely to use sunscreen, though Gen Z reports the highest pressure to have a suntan.

Why it matters

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer, and the survey points to gaps in how Australians understand sun protection across generations. Because children tend to copy parents' sun-safety habits, the knowledge gaps identified in adults carry weight for families across the country.

The survey compared four generational groups, and 17 per cent of Baby Boomers who use sunscreen had not used it in the previous eight months. Researchers found 50 per cent of lifetime UV exposure happens before age 20, but the source does not detail how that estimate was produced.

The players

Cancer Council Australia

Cancer Council Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation focused on cancer prevention, research and support, and it is known for its SunSmart sun protection campaigns.

The details

Cancer Council Australia released the data two weeks before the official start of summer. Gen Z, aged 16 to 30, reported the highest pressure to have a suntan, with 27 per cent saying influencer suntanning content made them want one, while 55 per cent said they had become more deliberate about sun protection over the past year.

Two weeks before the official start of summer: Cancer Council Australia releases the sun safety survey data.
Over the past year: Gen Z reports becoming more deliberate about sun protection.

Culture Shift

The findings sit within the SunSmart program's decades-long push to make sun protection a routine habit, and the influence of social media on young people's tanning preferences marks a shift from earlier campaigns. Younger Australians are using sunscreen more than older generations, yet social pressure to tan remains strong among Gen Z.

Sunscreen use and regular sun protection are the practical measures the survey highlights for reducing lifetime UV exposure. Parents who model sun-safe habits can influence children, who are 12 times more likely to use sunscreen and three times more likely to wear a hat when they see their parents do it first.

The takeaway

Making sunscreen and hats a visible part of everyday routines, especially for children, is among the simplest ways families can reduce lifetime UV exposure. Checking the UV Index before going outdoors helps people decide when extra protection is needed.