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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
What to know about sunscreen, SPF and protecting yourself from the sun all year round
For many Australians, the first port of call for sun safety is sunscreen. However, a new Choice report found 16 from a sample of 20 widely available sunscreen products failed to meet the SPF level on their label. But experts say there's no need to panic. Here's everything they say you need to know — from how sunscreen is tested, what to look out for when shopping and what else you can do to protect yourself from the sun. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor — how well something protects you against ultraviolet radiation (UV). The higher the number, the less UV passes through to your skin. SPF measures how much time it takes for an individual to burn while wearing a particular sunscreen. If someone normally burns after 10 minutes in the sun, an SPF of 10 should allow them to spend 100 minutes in the sun before burning, says Melanoma Institute dermatologist Dr Linda Martin. In percentages, that means the difference between an SPF50 and SPF30 might not be as much as you think. If applied correctly, an SPF50 lets through just 2 per cent of UV rays, whereas an SPF30 allows 3.3 per cent through, Dr Martin says. But Michelle Wong*, a cosmetic chemist and science communicator, says the gap in effectiveness grows, the less you apply. "So instead of just 2 per cent or 3.3 per cent of UV getting in, you will be getting either 4 per cent or 6.7 per cent," she said. Most of us only apply around a quarter of what is used in testing conditions, Dr Martin says. An SPF rating is calculated through testing on humans in an accredited laboratory. It can't be done in the sun because the conditions would be variable and dangerous. Instead, an instrument called a solar simulator that imitates sunlight is used. Researchers measure the time it takes for the skin to redden in an area where sunscreen has been applied, versus an area that has no sunscreen on it. Australia follows the international standard for sunscreen testing, which mandates testing on 10 volunteers. Many sunscreen brands sold in Australia test in labs overseas. In most cases, yes — sunscreens are very effective and the Choice results shouldn't make you lose faith, Dr Wong says. Australia has some of the strictest sunscreen regulations in the world and all are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). But the TGA says SPF results can vary between different laboratories because of the reliance on human testing. For example, Dr Wong says the redness of skin can be interpreted differently by testing staff, and results can differ depending on ethnicity and where testing is done. "Someone in Australia that's just come out of our summer is also going to have much more sun-tolerant skin than someone in, let's say, Europe," she says. Dr Wong said the best one is the one you will apply generously and regularly, and fits in with your budget. She says most of the time, an SPF30 is going to provide enough protection if you apply the right amount. The higher the SPF, the better — but remember if you only apply a quarter of the right amount of SPF50, you're essentially wearing an SPF 12.5, Dr Wong says. The TGA says SPFs in the range of 30 to 59 provide "high protection", while a SPF of 60 or higher provides "very high" protection. While SPF filters what's called UVB rays, you also need to protect from UVA radiation. UVB rays typically causes sunburn, while UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and can get through glass. So, make sure your sunscreen says something like 'UVB and UVA protection' or 'broad spectrum'. Also, if you're going to be spending a lot of time in the water (or just sweating heaps) then go for a water-resistant sunscreen. Dr Wong said there's a lot of debate about chemical versus mineral sunscreens, but at the end of the day they offer similar protection. You'll know you have a chemical sunscreen if the ingredients include things like octocrylene or aobenzone. You'll see zinc oxide or titanium oxide if it's a mineral sunscreen. She says in general, chemical sunscreens are lighter but have a higher chance of stinging your eyes, while mineral ones will have a more matte texture but may leave more white residue. Sunscreen can be applied underneath moisturisers and make-up, but Dr Wong says research shows they can be more effective when put over the top of skincare. The general recommendation is that when the UV index is forecast to reach 3 or above you should apply sunscreen as part of your daily routine. While UV radiation is generally higher in summer than winter, it's still there all year round. You might even need to wear sunscreen indoors, depending on your circumstances. For example, if you spend a lot of time driving, remember that untinted windows don't completely block UVA radiation. However, the latest advice, which you can read here and is backed by the Australasian College of Dermatologists, reflects the fact that people with darker skin tones need different sun safety advice. There's a lot we could cover here, but the most common mistakes are: You remember slip, slop, slap, right? Since that campaign was rolled out in 1981, two more have been added: seek shade and slide on sunglasses. In full, the Melanoma Institute's five rules for greater sun protection are: "Remember sunscreen is a filter. It's not a coat of armour and it's not the only step," Dr Martin says. "Skin cancer is the most common, the most expensive and the most preventable cancer in Australia." *Michelle Wong says in 2022 she did one-off sponsored posts with some of the brands tested by CHOICE.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
A systematic maths approach could unlock stronger results across primary schools
When Nathan Forbes took on the role of principal at Budgewoi Public School in 2020, he recognised an opportunity to enhance the school's maths program. The school had room for improvement in maths results, with Nathan observing a diverse range of teaching approaches among staff, including discovery and games-based teaching strategies. Fast-forward five short years and a lot has changed. Teachers take a systematic approach to teaching maths, following a common lesson sequence from Foundation to Year 6 and explicitly teaching new content to students. Now, there's no guess work about what maths topics to teach or how, and lessons are fast-paced as kids have no time to waste. It's paying off. While there's still plenty left to work on, students and teachers have made great strides. Budgewoi's 2024 NAPLAN numeracy results improved from 2023, with Year 3 students performing well above students in similar schools. The question is: what's holding other schools back from doing the same thing? Budgewoi's journey shows us how challenging it is to lead school improvement, and why state governments need to invest in the kind of shoulder-to-shoulder support principals need. The challenge of school improvement Budgewoi serves a community with many families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, including many Indigenous households. When Nathan arrived in 2020, he found a school deeply committed to student wellbeing but lacking focus on learning outcomes. 'I gained the sense that student learning outcomes were not the focus,' Nathan told us when we visited the school as part of the research for our report, How to implement great maths teaching in primary schools: a guide for principals. 'I developed the view that if we raised expectations of ourselves and our students, we were capable of much better results,' Nathan said. The transition wasn't easy. Some teachers initially resisted the shift to a systematic maths approach, where content was sequenced lesson by lesson and new content was taught explicitly — that is, in small chunks, with teachers providing whole-class explanations, lots of opportunities for practice and immediate feedback, before students work independently. Some teachers regarded it as 'really regimented, like the army'. Nathan said he had to build understanding about the cognitive science behind the approach, so staff understood that 'we're not doing it because other schools do. We're doing it because it's based on science and helps students to learn. Once teachers have the why, you can get into the what and how.' A turning point came when Nathan recruited two experienced maths leaders with expertise in explicit instruction — a decision he described as the best he ever made. These specialists helped refocus the school's approach, introducing structured training sessions and establishing observation and coaching cycles. They also implemented a new assessment schedule in maths, with quarterly 'data weeks' where staff analysed students' results to understand the impact of their teaching methods. Leaning on other schools for help Amy Haywood is the deputy program director of the education program at the Grattan Institute and co-author of the The Maths Guarantee report. ( Supplied: Amy Haywood ) Budgewoi didn't do this work alone. Its instructional vision was inspired by visits to three nearby Hunter Region public schools — Blue Haven, Charlestown South and The Entrance (which was just one year ahead in its implementation journey) — where systematic maths teaching had proven effective. These schools teamed up, developing a common set of sequenced and detailed lessons plans, which Budgewoi has now adopted. Nathan said the materials supported high-quality teaching while alleviating much of teachers' workload burden. The results speak volumes: accelerated learning, improved NAPLAN results and teachers developing significant maths curriculum expertise. Perhaps most importantly, the principal notes, 'Budgewoi's experience shows that good-quality teaching looks the same in the most disadvantaged and most advantaged schools, and all kids can learn maths if we teach the right way.' The case for Maths Hubs What if we could systematise this approach across Australia? This is where Maths Hubs come in. Drawing on England's Hubs model, Australia should establish 50 Maths Hubs as demonstration schools that showcase best practice and provide intensive support to about 150 other primary schools in their area. These hubs, established at existing high-performing schools, would bridge the gap between research evidence, education policy and classroom practice. With about $930,000 in additional funding per year, each hub school could employ a lead coordinator, a lead mathematics specialist and the equivalent of three full-time maths coaches. These specialists, who may also work part-time teaching at the school, would provide training to teachers across their region, including hosting school visits; conducting or unpacking demonstration lessons; and delivering topic-specific training. 'Maths Hubs' are demonstration schools that showcase best practice and provide intensive support to other schools in their area. ( Supplied: Budgewoi Public School ) Hubs would offer intensive, two-year partnerships to schools, starting with those most in need — those with low performance, inexperienced staff or a combination of both. These schools would get shoulder-to-shoulder support from hub coaches, including practical help improving their curriculum and assessment schedule. Within about 10 years, Maths Hubs could provide intensive partnership training to all primary schools in Australia. The evidence from England suggests this approach works. Its Maths Hubs program has been credited by the national school inspectorate with helping create 'a resounding, positive shift in mathematics education'. Australia should learn from Budgewoi Public School Budgewoi's experience shows that improving primary maths teaching is hard work. Without the right support, even the most dedicated school leaders will struggle to make systemic changes stick. But by establishing Maths Hubs, Australian governments can provide the on-the-ground support school leaders need. The stakes couldn't be higher. As Budgewoi's principal told us: 'I've made a lot of mistakes, and we moved quickly — maybe too quickly — but we've also made a lot of progress.' With Maths Hubs, more schools could make that progress, and make it faster. Our students deserve nothing less. Amy Haywood is the deputy program director of the education program at the Grattan Institute and co-author of the new guide for principals on How to implement great maths teaching in primary schools.
Canberra Times
an hour ago
- Canberra Times
Four in five sunscreens fail SPF test: consumer group
Slip, slop, slap is drilled into Australians as a motto to live by but testing shows four in five sunscreens are failing to provide protection, prompting the Cancer Council to vow to send its products to the lab again.
