One third of all cancers can be prevented, with cancer prevention being one of the most effective ways we can create a cancer free future.
Funds raised from Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea are helping to empower Australians to reduce their cancer risk by funding world-leading prevention campaigns. This includes encouraging participation in cancer screening programs and providing education on healthy lifestyle choices through programs like SunSmart.
Your fundraising is helping protect little Aussies
Skin cancer is Australia’s most common cancer, with childhood and adolescence being the time in which we are most vulnerable to harmful sun exposure that contributes to skin cancer later in life. The good news is, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers.
Through the SunSmart Schools and Early Childhood program, we’re protecting more than 2 million little Aussies from harmful UV radiation that leads to skin cancer. This program has led to massive behaviour change across the country and has already shown to result in reduced cancer rates later in life.
"Back when I first started working in melanoma, the treatments were not effective. The thing we did know is that over 95% of melanoma is caused by UV radiation. We’re now seeing falling rates of melanoma in some Australian populations, and that is due to a combination of Cancer Council sun protection campaigns and the solarium ban”
– Cancer researcher Professor Grant McArthur. He hopes to see the total deaths from melanoma at least halved before he retires.
Other cancer prevention initiatives
your morning tea helps fund
SunSmart Campaigns
Our SunSmart campaigns have been reminding Australians to be sun safe since the 1980s. The latest data shows that melanoma rates in Australians under 40 are now dropping - thanks to public education campaigns.
SunSmart Schools Program
Our SunSmart school program helps to protect 2 million kids across the country from overexposure to UV radiation each year, reducing their risk of skin cancer in the future.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Our researchers supported the introduction of Australia’s new cervical screening program, providing the evidence to support the changes. With our leading cervical screening and HPV vaccination program, Australia is now set to be the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer. Find out more about this here.
Anti-Smoking Campaigns
We continue to remind Australians of the danger of smoking – and provide them with the support to quit. We do this through implementing public education mass media campaigns and supporting people to quit through Quitlines. Today, Australian smoking rates remain their lowest on record at under 13%.
Bowel Cancer Screening
We continue to promote bowel cancer screening – encouraging eligible Australians to do the test and calling on governments to do more to increase participation. The free program could save 84,000 lives if just 60% of eligible Australians take part. Find out more about this here.