People from across the Ballarat region will be better protected from the sun’s damaging rays thanks to new grants being made available by the Andrews Government.

Labor Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, today announced the School Shade Grants Program and the Community Shade Grants Program are both open, providing funding for shade structures, tree planting and other sun protection measures.

The Labor Government is giving a big $10 million boost to the programs, paving the way for about 1,000 schools and community groups to install shade over the next four years.

As part of the boost, schools and community groups will be able to share in $2 million for other protective measures such as hats and sunscreen.

Ms Addison said the programs make sure that more Victorians than ever can access much-needed shade when the hot sun hits hard thanks to new shade sails or newly-planted trees.

“We all love spending time outdoors on nice sunny days, but the sun’s UV can be dangerous and deadly if we don’t protect ourselves,” she said.

“Our grants programs have helped hundreds of schools and community groups provide the protection Victorians need to prevent cancer and I’d encourage people in Ballarat to apply for these new rounds of funding,” Ms Addison said.

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three people diagnosed by the age of 70.

In 2017, melanoma was the fourth most common cancer in Victoria, with 2,993 invasive melanomas diagnosed and 270 deaths. The five-year survival rate for Victorians diagnosed with invasive melanoma was at 90 per cent in 2013-16.

To apply for a grant visit www.health.vic.gov.au