Planning is an essential component of any project. A good plan will help ensure that your project is supported by key members of staff and that everyone involved understands their role in helping you to achieve your goal.
Gaining buy-in from school executives to drive the SunSmart hat wearing agenda is the first step to making it happen.Having leadership support will help ensure the project is well resourced and given a high priority, providing a greater chance of success.
Educate and motivate school leaders to help them understand the importance of SunSmart hat wearing.
Supporting resources:
SunSmart behaviours at school (PDF, 1 MB)
Enlist two or more fellow champions to drive SunSmart engagement. This might be classroom teachers, office staff, Student Representative Council (SRC), Parents and Citizens committee or other school community reps with an interest in sun safety, health and wellbeing.
Having team members from multiple roles across the school can help share key responsibilities and support whole school engagement.
Supporting resources:
SunSmart Hat-Wearing Champion’s Guide (PDF, 565 kB)
Action Plan Template (DOCX, 323 kB)
Key areas that successful schools often address include: Motivation, Access and Triggers (M.A.T). With your SunSmart team, use the M.A.T model infographic to help identify your school’s strengths, areas for improvement and any challenges or barriers to SunSmart hat wearing.
For strengths, consider what your school has achieved, how it was done and who was involved, and incorporate these lessons into your plan.
Use the statements below to help determine what changes may need to occur to achieve 100% SunSmart hat wearing:
• Students aren’t allowed to wear baseball caps.
• The school uniform shop only sells SunSmart hats.
• Rules around SunSmart hat wearing are clearly communicated and consistently applied.
• There are systems in place to help ensure all students have access to a SunSmart hat.
• Staff students consistently role model good sun protection practices.
• The school regularly communicates SunSmart messages to the school community.
• Sun safety is considered in planning for all activities, including sport and excursion.
Supporting resources:
MAT model infographic (JPG, 114 kB)
Overcoming barriers to SunSmart hat wearing (PDF, 379 kB)
Use the SunSmart Action Plan Template to confirm what resources you will implement. Resources are categorised into areas of the M.A.T model to help you select resources based on your needs.
In your planning, consider:
• Who will be responsible for implementing the resource/s
• The different audiences you will engage (e.g. students, parents/carers, teachers)
• When you will use the resources
Every school has different challenges. You may prioritise a big impact change like not allowing baseball caps or changes that are feasible for now like communicating the importance of sun protection.
Start planning early in Term 3 so you’re ready to kick off implementation in the Summer terms (Term 4/1).
Supporting resources:
Action Plan Template (DOCX, 323 kB)
