The time-tested “Slip, Slop,Slap” method has been ushered into the digital age, updating the important sun safety message for the smartphone generation.

It is difficult to engage young people with a cartoon and catchy jingle these days, even when the message could save their lives.

As a result, the Global Controversies and Advances in Skin Cancer Conference), hosted by Cancer Council Queensland in Brisbane, will see the launch of Cancer Council’s new app.

It is hoped the app will boost the sun-protective behaviours of young people, after the recent National Sun Protection Survey showed just one in five Australian adolescents (aged 12-17 years) use three or more sun-stopping methods when outdoors.

The survey also found one in five Australian adolescents report getting sunburnt on any given summer weekend.

Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift said she hoped the Cancer Council's SunSmart app will be added to the suite of software people now use to control their lives.

“Young Aussies use apps to keep them on track with their health and fitness - we hope our SunSmart app can be used successfully in the same way,” Ms Clift said.

“Of the sunburnt adolescents surveyed, 20 per cent said their sunburn happened because they forgot to protect their skin, and 23 per cent said their sunscreen simply wore off.

“Using an app to remind young people to take sun protective measures and to reapply sunscreen is an effective tool on a medium that young people are already using comfortably - their smartphones.


“Cancer Council's SunSmart app allows users to track UV levels in real time wherever they are in Australia, and even offers advice on applying sunscreen.”

The effectiveness of similar sun safety apps will be discussed at the GC-SC 2013 conference – a forum for international, cutting-edge debate on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and survivorship for all types of skin cancer.

More information about GC-SC 2013 is available here.