Strengthening World-class Healthcare for Children

On Good Friday, the Albanese Government is investing to strengthen world-class healthcare for children as part of Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.  

This year marks 95 years of the Good Friday Appeal and 95 years of the Victorian community coming together in support of young patients and their families.

Our Government will provide $2 million to support the Royal Children’s Hospital to improve access to specialised health care for children throughout Victoria, and to expand its health information service for children and young people nationally.

The builds on the $6 million the Government has already provided to the Good Friday Appeal, funding life-changing treatment, world-class research, leadership and training. It helps attract the brightest minds to care for kids from Victoria and across Australia.

Last year, the Good Friday Appeal, together with the Royal Children’s Hospital, distributed $3 million to 41 regional health services to fund equipment, training and education.

This allowed families to receive care closer to home and was described as a “game changer” by regional health services.

Every year, thousands of people volunteer their time, experience and creativity to organise fundraising events and activities to support the hospital, culminating in the telethon on Good Friday. 

Anyone wishing to make a contribution or learn more about the patients, volunteers and staff at the hospital can visit www.goodfridayappeal.com.au. 

Prime Minister Albanese:

“For 95 years, the Good Friday Appeal has been about people pitching in and helping out people who need it the most. That’s the Australian way.

“Nothing matters more than the health and wellbeing of our children, and this funding will help make sure more kids get the care they need, closer to home.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital does incredible work and this investment will help them reach more children across Victoria.

“I thank every volunteer and supporter who makes the Good Friday Appeal possible because your generosity is changing lives.”

Deputy Prime Minister Marles:

“The Albanese Government’s support for the Good Friday Appeal is about providing greater access to health care in regional Victoria, meaning greater access closer to home and reducing the burden on families and their loved ones.

“Having grown up with the Good Friday Appeal, I know Victorians will be digging deep today in support of a truly terrific cause.  

Minister Butler: 

“The Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital is a fabulous cause with a rich history. 

“The Royal Children’s Hospital uses these funds for projects that lift paediatric care to a new level and help to spread its excellence in care for more children and families, in more places, closer to home.”

Meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

Last night, I joined more than 40 countries on a ministerial call on the Strait of Hormuz as part of Australia’s support for international efforts to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime.

I thank UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper for convening the meeting with representatives from every continent, as well as key international organisations including the International Maritime Organization and the European Union.

Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices.

Iran is deliberately inflicting economic pain on communities worldwide, including the Indo-Pacific, with the costs borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable.

Australia joined partners in condemning the Iranian regime’s weaponisation of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers urged Iran to act in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which reaffirmed that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels, in accordance with international law, must be respected, particularly around critical maritime routes.

The focus of last night’s meeting was diplomatic and civilian initiatives countries could pursue to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe. Ministers agreed on the importance of continued coordination and collective action.

Australia is not taking offensive action against Iran and we are not deploying troops on the ground in Iran.

The Australian Government continues to support de-escalation and the resolution of this conflict.

The longer this war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be.

Greens call on Assembly to join Yerrabi Yurwang rally in support of vital healthcare funding

Today, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens, Jo Clay has called on all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to stand with workers and community members fighting to save the Yerrabi Yurwang Northside Health Service, which is pausing operations this morning after the ACT Government refused to provide funding for the service.

Jo Clay, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens:

“Canberra is often painted as one of the wealthiest cities in the country, but that’s only half the story. This city is a tale of two stories, and right now the gap between them is growing, leaving entire communities in the dust.

“For First Nations people on the northside, that inequality is stark.

“It is unacceptable that access to culturally appropriate health services depends on what side of town you live. Just 17% of First Nations people on the northside are accessing health services, compared to 20-29% in the south.

“The team at Yerrabi Yurwang have been doing incredible work under impossible pressure. Last year, the Greens stood with them and the community, backing their call for proper investment. The need has only grown since then.

“Instead of stepping up, the government has walked away. Today, that decision means a vital, community-led health service is shutting its doors, right in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, when people need support more than ever.

“This closure will force people to travel long distances, by car or unreliable public transport, just to access culturally-appropriate healthcare. For many, that means going without.

“This is a political choice from the Labor Government and it’s the wrong one. The Greens are calling on the government to immediately restore funding to Yerrabi Yurwang and work with the community to secure a long-term future for this essential service.

“If the Labor Party is serious about Closing the Gap, backing self-determination, and delivering real health outcomes for First Nations people, then it needs to stop talking and start funding, by stepping up for the Yerrabi Yurwang Northside Health Service.”

The ACT Greens will be attending the rally to save Yerrabi Yurwang Health Service and are calling on members of the public as well as members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to join in showing their support for aboriginal-controlled health services.

Greens welcome Australian Chief Scientist reports on strengthening mis and disinformation resilience

The Greens welcome today’s release of a series of reports from the Office of Australia’s Chief Scientist and the National Science and Technology Council that examine how resilience to mis and disinformation can be strengthened in Australia.

The reports come a week after a Greens-initiated Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy found coordinated false and misleading information campaigns are infringing multiple human rights, dividing Australian communities, and hindering global progress on climate change by eroding public trust in climate science and influencing political outcomes.

Greens spokesperson for Science, and Select Committee chair, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“The release of these reports helps progress a timely and critical national conversation, taking place alongside international conversations, on how governments can strengthen and protect our information ecosystems.

“The reports published by the Office of Australia’s Chief Scientist reinforce substantial evidence provided to the Select Committee regarding the urgent need for the development of a national, society-wide plan to address this wicked problem.

“Majority Select Committee recommendations – supported by Labor – for the Australian Government to adopt the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity and to endorse the UN Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change provide clear frameworks for how a national plan to strengthen our information ecosystem could be progressed.

“Australians have low literacy and understanding of mis and disinformation – what it is, why it happens, and how to recognise it. Especially the tactics and tools employed by various disinformation actors and vested interests.

“Report findings handed down by Australia’s Chief Scientist are consistent with many found by the Select Committee.

“Both reports found that certain social and traditional media outlets intentionally present biased or misleading information to appeal to specific audiences and that this may be done to drive user engagement and platform profits, while also amplifying inaccuracies. 

“This doesn’t just refer to the propagation of false or misleading information relating to climate change and energy, but also the deliberate manipulation of public discourse by multiple actors. 

“Knowledge and information is power. When our information ecosystems are polluted by profit-driven tech platforms, fossil fuel corporations and other vested interests, this becomes an urgent and significant obstacle to the public’s ability to make educated and informed decisions.

“The Greens implore the Albanese government to act on the Select Committee’s recommendations. This includes implementing legislative or regulatory reform to identify psychosocial harms caused by mis and disinformation, and placing the onus of addressing these harms onto digital platforms while monitoring the effectiveness of their mitigations through regulatory and civic oversight.

Labor has squibbed it on gambling reform

Responding to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement on gambling ad reform at the Nation Press Club today, Greens spokesperson for communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: 

“The Prime Minister has caved to the gambling lobby. 

“Gambling ads will continue to flood online and blanket digital apps, ads linked to sport will stay on TV, and there’s no National Regulator to hold the gambling lobby accountable.

“It’s weak and gutless and leaves young Australians to be groomed by the gambling predators. 

“This proposal is riddled with loopholes that will benefit the gambling companies and allow them to continue their insidious targeting.

“Genuine gambling reform has to take aim at the industry’s most harmful practices – including their predatory online advertising and inducements. 

“What has been outlined today by the Prime Minister does not match the scale of reform desperately needed to take on the vultures in the gambling industry.

“Online platforms are now the frontline of gambling promotion, with younger Australians increasingly exposed. The only way to tackle this insidious industry head on is with a complete ban on gambling ads. 

“The Greens will work through the details when we see the legislation and push for the protection Australian families deserve – but this announcement today doesn’t touch the sides.”

Prisons no longer able to surveil conversations between incarcerated people and lawyers

NSW will no longer have the power to surveil conversations between incarcerated people and legal practitioners, after a disallowance motion moved by Greens justice spokesperson Sue Higginson passed the Legislative Council with the support of the Opposition and the entire crossbench.

Members of Parliament, police, and legal practitioners are exempt from surveillance under regulation, meaning any phone calls or letters between those persons and inmates cannot be monitored or recorded. A regulation made earlier this year restricted the surveillance exemption to legal practitioners who gave legal advice to specific inmates.

The 2024 Inquiry into prison guard Wayne Astill’s sexual offending against female prisoners raised concerns that prison guards had “systematically” used information “gleaned from monitoring inmate calls, visits and letters as a means of intimidation”.

Greens MP, spokesperson for Justice and solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“Conversations between lawyers and incarcerated people should not be monitored by the state.

“Incarcerated people have a right to access lawyers free of state interference, lawyer and client confidentiality and legal professional privilege are important basic tenants of access to justice,

“Women in prison who were victims of Wayne Astill’s heinous sexual offending were terrified of raising their experiences because they knew prison guards were spying on their conversations with lawyers unlawfully. This practice has continued under the Minns Labor Government and Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong, and to date he has done nothing to protect the privacy of vulnerable people in custody, he has only made regulations that increase the risks of this happening again,

“The Minns Labor Government made a clumsy and authoritarian attempt to intercept conversations between lawyers and incarcerated people by regulation, but this attempt has failed after the parliament disallowed the regulation,”

“The ramifications of breaching legal professional privilege by spying on conversations with lawyers are severe. The Supreme Court has been clear that Courts can permanently stay any proceeding where a breach of legal professional privilege has been identified, meaning this regulation could have risked entire criminal cases being thrown out,

“I have no doubt that Corrective Services routinely spy on conversations that inmates have with me, even though Members of Parliament are also exempt from surveillance. Prison guards often retaliate against incarcerated people who are seeking my assistance with urgent health issues and matters of injustice,

“I have written to the Minister for Corrections raising these concerns and I have been ignored. It wasn’t until Minister Chanthivong was questioned by journalists that he gave any assurance that my allegations of unlawful conduct were being investigated. It shouldn’t be journalists’ job to persuade the Minister to do his job,”

“The Minister for Corrections is wilfully overseeing a system of rampant non-compliance with the law in which privileged conversations can be spied upon. His continued inaction has created a significant mess and he must act to clean it up, or the parliament and the press will keep doing it for him,” Ms Higginson said.

Take a journey to a Land of Lost Things this school holidays

A beloved children’s book will take centre stage during the April school holidays as City of Newcastle provides a range of activities to keep kids active and entertained.

The Civic Theatre is showcasing a new theatrical adaption of You & Me and the Land of Lost Things from writer Andy Griffiths and illustrator Bill Hope on 14 April, featuring a wild quest through a world of snapping turtles, flying socks, treasure-hungry pirates and a very anxious bull.

Nicholas Starte, Mym Kwa, Mathew Lee and Catherine Dominguez in the You & Me and the Land of Lost Things theatrical production. Photo credit: Phil Erbacher

Nicholas Starte, Mym Kwa, Mathew Lee and Catherine Dominguez in the You & Me and the Land of Lost Things theatrical production. Photo credit: Phil ErbacherTo complement the production, Newcastle and Wallsend Libraries are offering illustration workshops on 7 and 8 April, while on 15 April a special event inspired by the book will offer participants the chance to learn basic navigation and map reading skills to take part in a treasure hunt.

At Newcastle Museum children can create their own version of the adventure gear that features in the popular children’s tale on 9 April, with participants also in the running to win a signed copy of the book.

Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee Chair Councillor Jenny Barrie said City of Newcastle is offering plenty of fun for families.

“City of Newcastle’s cultural facilities will be hubs of entertainment and education these school holidays for Novocastrians enjoying a staycation,” Cr Barrie said.

“The Civic Theatre has a range of options for children of all ages, including spectacular magic in Circus of Illusion, Hunter Drama’s Once Upon A One More Time at the Playhouse, a new live touring dance show called The Next Step: Legacy World Tour and a K-Pop Icons performance.

“City and Wallsend libraries have a packed scheduled, from LEGO challenges and hands-on workshops with a sea theme, to creative sessions that challenge Minecraft fans to build their own Model Newcastle inspired by the Newcastle Museum exhibition.”

There’s plenty more on offer at the Museum, including the ever-popular science shows, which will help children discover the structure of the Earth using custard and chocolate or allow them to test their knowledge of dinosaurs.

A two-day program called Marionette Melodrama will see recycled materials used to create a puppet with its own distinctive personality.

There’s also a writing workshop for teenagers and an upcycling session where participants can bring old clothes back to life.

Primary school children will have more than one reason to visit Newcastle Art Gallery with two different workshops running in the first and second week of the holidays.

Art Gallery educators will deliver ‘Frame It’ sessions where children can design and create their own frame box to explore how artists use the foreground, midground, and background to create stories in their works of art.

Inspired by collection artist Nell’s sculpture currently on display at the Gallery, the ‘Ghosty’ holiday workshops will give children the chance to create their own puppet, as well as a special case for Ghosty to live in and travel home safely.

For more information on all the school holiday activities visit The Civic Theatre, City of Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Art Gallery websites.

$6.5m construction begins on new refuge in Maitland

Construction is underway on a new refuge in Maitland LGA to provide women and children escaping domestic and family violence with more access to secure accommodation, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s efforts to build a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors.

Housing Plus is developing the refuge, with specialist support services to be delivered onsite by Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services once the project is complete.

Under the NSW Government’s Core and Cluster program, Housing Plus has been awarded $6.4 million to deliver the refuge, which will provide eight units of crisis accommodation for women and children leaving violence.

The project will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units designed to support different household types. One unit will be wheelchair accessible, and the shared areas will also be accessible for residents with restricted mobility.

Each unit will be fully self-contained, featuring its own kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities, private outdoor space and an area for pets.

The refuge will feature indoor and outdoor play spaces for children, as well as designated areas for communal activities.

This investment forms part of the NSW Government’s $426.6 million Core and Cluster program to expand crisis accommodation and provide on-site specialist support for women and children fleeing violence.

Once complete, the program will support more than 2,900 additional victim-survivors of domestic and family violence each year.

The initiative also contributes to the Minns Government’s broader response to domestic and family violence, including an historic $6.6 billion investment in social and affordable housing, with at least half the new homes prioritised for victim-survivors.

It also includes actions to address domestic, family and sexual violence from all angles, such as expanding frontline support services, holding perpetrators to account, early intervention and primary prevention.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson said:

“Domestic and family violence remains one of the leading causes of homelessness in NSW and that’s why we’re investing in purpose-built refuge accommodation so when someone makes the courageous decision to leave violence, they can be certain there’s a safe place to turn when they need it most.

“No one should have to choose between staying in danger or facing homelessness. These refuges offer far more than a roof over someone’s head, they’re spaces designed to provide privacy, independence and specialist support in one place.

“Once built, this refuge in Maitland will be a safe place for women with or without children to rebuild their lives and live free from abuse.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison said:

“This new Core and Cluster refuge in Maitland will give families a secure place to stay while they receive the specialist support they need to rebuild their lives.

“Importantly, women and children can access tailored support services onsite, in a safe and purpose-built environment designed to meet their needs.

“By working with organisations like Housing Plus and Carrie’s Place, we are ensuring women and children leaving violence have access to safe accommodation and the support services they deserve.”

Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison said:

“A safe place to stay is about so much more than a bed and four walls. It can be the turning point that gives someone the space, dignity and strength to leave violence behind.

“For many women and children, refuges like this are more than accommodation, they are a lifeline – a chance to catch their breath, feel safe, and begin to rebuild.

“As the local member, my community has been crying out for these services for over a decade. I know how vital they are for communities, and I’m incredibly proud to see this refuge being delivered in Maitland to support those who need it most.

“Domestic and family violence remains a significant issue in Maitland, with Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data showing domestic violence-related assault charges have increased by 3.6% and sexual assault charges by 14.3% in the last decade. A clear reminder of why investment in refuges like this is so critical.”

Acting CEO of Housing Plus Group, Maria Woods said:

“The commencement of construction on this state-of-the-art emergency accommodation marks an exciting milestone for our organisation and the Maitland community.

“The Core and Cluster model offers an innovative approach to independent living while ensuring access to vital support services, and we are proud to be leading the way in creating a safe and welcoming space for women and children.

“Our partnership with Carrie’s Place brings together our design and construction expertise with their deep local experience in service delivery, and we look forward to opening the doors together in 2027.”

CEO of Carrie’s Place, Jayne Clowes said:

“This Specialist Accommodation represents hope, safety, and a pathway forward for women and children experiencing violence.

“Demand for crisis accommodation continues to rise, and this purpose‑built facility will help ensure that families in danger have somewhere safe to turn.

“We are proud to be partnering with the NSW Government and Housing Plus on this essential project.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

But where is the mens shelter?

Thousands set to hop along to Sydney Fish Markets this Easter

The new Sydney Fish Market is expected to have its biggest day of trade to date as operators prepare for more than 60,000 visitors on Good Friday.

Across the Easter long weekend, approximately 650 tonnes of seafood is expected to be sold – including 100 tonnes of prawns and nearly one million oysters.

To manage the demand, fishmongers and retail stores will have extended hours opening from 5.00am on Friday.

Adding to the holiday atmosphere there will also be visits from the Easter Bunny from 10am to 12pm on Good Friday and 11am to 2pm on Easter Sunday.

The new Sydney Fish Market has all your Easter feast needs bringing together Sydney’s finest seafood specialists, gourmet providores, fresh produce vendors and specialty food retailers.

Alongside premium seafood, Mayfarm Flowers offers farm fresh flowers, Olivetta has limited edition Easter boxes and Blackwattle Deli stocks everything for an Easter feast.

Limited-edition treats on offer, include Cow & The Moon’s hot-cross brioche filled with house-made gelato and Stitch Coffee’s White Rabbit chocolate bar, created in partnership with local chocolatier South Pacific Cacao. For a special Easter dining experience, Ichié has teamed up with Christie’s Seafood for a live lobster offer, with chefs preparing lobster one of three ways – sashimi, stir-fry or deep-fried.

More than 100 seafood species will be available across the long weekend, including Easter staples like prawns and oysters to seasonal standouts including Yellowtail Kingfish, Ocean Perch, Mullet and Gould’s Squid.

Sydney Fish Market’s restaurants are also ready to serve up fresh flavours and Easter cheer across the long weekend. From casual bites to sit-down feasts and festive cocktails, diners can taste the very best local produce while enjoying the best harbour views.

Public transport is the best way to get to Sydney Fish Market, with train, light rail and bus stops nearby.

You can plan your trip using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner or check out the Travel Access Guide.

For more information about Sydney Fish Market visit Home – Sydney Fish Market

The new harbourside destination has attracted more one million visitors in its first two months of trading and even gained the attention of Time magazine, who named it one of ‘the World’s Greatest Places of 2026’.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Sydney Fish Market will be buzzing this Easter, set to attract more than 60,000 on Good Friday and sell more than 650 tonnes of seafood across the long weekend.

“Fishmongers and retailers are prepared for the crowds with all seafood counters stacked and a number of limited edition Easter treats on offer across retailers and restaurants.

“The weekend will be made extra special with visits by the Easter Bunny on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.”

Sydney Fish Market CEO Daniel Jarosch said:

“For so many Sydney families, Easter starts at the Fish Market and this year that tradition has a spectacular new harbourside setting.

“From our fishmongers opening at 5am on Good Friday to late-night dining, there’s something for everyone over the entire long weekend.”

New report shows fewer NSW adults are getting sunburnt

A NSW Government report has revealed more people are protecting their skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, however an estimated 700, 000 people across the state were recently sunburnt.

Released today, Cancer Institute NSW’s Sun Protection Behaviours Report shows 10 per cent of adults reported being sunburnt at least once in the four-week period before they were surveyed, down from almost 15 per cent from the previous report.

However, there was no improvement from the previous report in the number of young adults, aged 18-24 years, getting sunburnt, with around one in five (18.5%) reporting a recent sunburn. Young adults were also less likely to adopt sun protection behaviours such as wearing protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.

The report also provided insights on sun exposure, finding around 40 per cent of all surveyed adults were frequently exposed to the sun from 11am-3pm, when UV levels are highest, yet only around 40 per cent used three or more forms of sun protection.

Two out of three Australians will be treated for skin cancer in their lifetime. In Australia, ninety-five per cent of melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection. The general rule is to protect your skin from the sun when the UV index is at three or above, which in NSW is most of the year, including in winter.

The Cancer Institute NSW has several initiatives in place to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in NSW as part of the NSW Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023-2030. Initiatives include behaviour change campaigns, influencing shade provision in public spaces and working with organisations in areas where people work, live and play to adopt sun protection policies and behaviours.

The most effective defence against overexposure to UV radiation is to follow these five key steps:

  1. Slip on protective clothing
  2. Slop on SPF50+ sunscreen 20 minutes before you go out, and reapply every two hours
  3. Slap on a wide brimmed hat that covers your face, ears and neck
  4. Seek shade throughout the day
  5. Slide on sunglasses that meet Australian Standards

Other report insights

  • More than 85 per cent of adults used at least one form of sun protection, however, only 38 per cent used three or more, and less than 5 per cent used all five forms of sun protection.
  • Men aged 40 and over were more likely than the overall population to be exposed to the sun during peak UV hours (11am–3pm). Although they were more likely to wear a sun-safe hat, they were less likely to use sunscreen.
  • People from coastal and regional and rural areas were significantly more likely to be exposed to the sun during peak UV hours compared to those from Sydney metropolitan areas, but their use of sun protection was generally higher and there were no geographical differences in reports of sunburn.

The latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report analyses data from the 2024 NSW Health Population Health Survey, which asked about 10,000 people to report on their sun exposure, episodes of sunburn, adoption of the five sun protection behaviours and the ease of finding shade at public parks. These results were extrapolated to the NSW population.

More information on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.

Health Minister Ryan Park:

“The release of the latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report is a good reminder especially to the state’s young adults to protect their skin when outside.

“Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world and we need to take the threat of skin cancer seriously and follow the simple, life-saving steps needed to reduce our risk of this deadly disease.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM:

“We are fortunate to live in a sun-drenched country but with that comes the increased risk of skin cancer, that’s why it is worrying that so many adults have been recently sunburnt.

“The report shows while progress has been made, we need to see more people protect their skin from the sun by doing the simple things we’ve been told for decades like seeking shade, wearing sunscreen, putting on a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing whenever we head outdoors.”

Katrina, diagnosed with melanoma aged 26 years

“I went to get my skin checked for the first time; a couple of my friends had been for skin checks so I thought it would be a good thing to do – like going to the dentist. The doctor biopsied one spot on my arm that looked suspicious. I was really shocked when I got the call to say it was an early-stage melanoma.

“I now encourage friends and siblings to get their skin checked. My melanoma was caught early, when it was treatable but it’s really scary for me to think about what might have happened if I hadn’t have had that skin check when I did.”