With two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, the action week is an important reminder of the risks of exposure to UV radiation, the need for sun protection and early skin cancer detection for all Australians.

Did you know:

• More than 2,000 people in Australia die from skin cancer each year
• Cancer Council estimates that Australia spends more than $1 billion per year treating skin cancer
• Most skin cancers can be prevented by the use of good sun protection, yet too many Australians still have a tan.
• Despite many Australians referring to a “healthy tan”, a tan is not a sign of good health or well being. In fact, tanning is a sign that you have been exposed to enough UV radiation to damage your skin. This will eventually cause premature aging – including sun spots, wrinkles and sagging. Worst of all it increases your risk of skin cancer.

Make the pledge today to protect yourself from UV radiation and abstain from tanning.

During National Skin Cancer Action Week and throughout summer, use the five forms of sun protection by:

• slip on sun-protective clothing
• slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
• slap on a broad-brimmed hat
• seek shade
• slide on sunglasses.

A combination of these measures, along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking for any changes, are the keys to reducing your skin cancer risk.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/sun-protection/campaigns-and-events/national-skin-cancer-action-week.html

Pneumonia is caused by an infection of the lung. Most infections are either due to bacteria or viruses, although often a cause is never found. This is a dangerous disease which can have severe effects on any individual who contracts it. World Pneumonia Day brings people from all over the world together, uniting to demand that something be done to fight the pneumonia illness. It helps to highlight the severity of pneumonia and encourages more organisations to look at ways of combating the disease.

Pneumonia is one of the most solvable problems in global health and yet a child dies from the infection every 20 seconds.

To get involved:

• Organise you own fundraiser
• Donate to the foundation
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information:
https://stoppneumonia.org/latest/world-pneumonia-day/

World NET Cancer Day is celebrated on the 10th of November. The aim of World NET Cancer Day is to raise awareness of NET cancers among decision makers, health professionals and the general public. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is the umbrella term for a group of unusual cancers which develop from cells in the diffuse endocrine system. NETs can affect people of any age, and can be slow-growing or very aggressive.

“NET is considered a rare cancer, but incidence has increased in Australia over the past few decades. Analysis has shown that annual NET incidence per 100,000 has increased from 1.7 in 1980-1989 to 3.3 in 2000-2006 (that is, three people per 100,000).”

Get involved by:

• Joining a support group
• Donating to the foundation
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser

For more  information: 
https://www.carcinoid.org/event/worldwide-net-cancer-awareness-day-2019/

Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Week is held on 10-16 November in 2019!

Let’s get real. Perinatal anxiety and depression is serious.

There’s a lot of baggage around mental health, and the mental health of expecting and new parents is no exception.

Too many people are still afraid to talk about perinatal anxiety and depression. Too many people don’t know the signs and symptoms, or where to seek help if they’re struggling. Too many people are afraid to reveal what they’re feeling or delay seeking help because of fear of being seen as bad parents.

We want expecting and new parents and their families to feel they can be open and honest about their feelings. As a community, we need to ‘get real’ about perinatal anxiety and depression.

This is what PANDA Week 2019 is all about!

Here’s how you can help:

• Encourage open and honest conversations about the mental health of expecting and new parents in your community or workplace.
• Host a PANDA Day event. Raise awareness about perinatal anxiety and depression and postnatal psychosis, and raise funds for PANDA along the way!
• Raise awareness on social media.

Together, we can make a difference by ‘getting real’ about perinatal mental illness this November.

The Movember Foundation is the leading global health organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health, stopping men dying too young. The state of men’s health is in crisis. Men experience worse longer-term health than women and die on average six years earlier.

Three quarters of suicides are by men. Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute.

Be a part of groundbreaking change and support ‘The Movember Foundation’ to address the crisis at a global level.

To get involved:

• Donate to the foundation
• Grow a moustache to show your support
• Organise a fundraiser
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information: https://au.movember.com/

Blue Knot Day is Blue Knot Foundation’s national awareness day celebrated in October every year. On this day, all Australians are asked to unite in support of the 5 million Australian adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.

The tangled knot in the Blue Knot Day logo symbolizes the complexity of childhood trauma, with blue representing the colour of the sky and a clear blue sky providing the space for new possibilities.

Our 10th annual national Blue Knot Day, a day on which Blue Knot Foundation asks all Australians to unite in support of adult survivors of complex trauma is fast approaching. This year, to help raise awareness around the foundation and embody the theme “Untangle the Knot of Complex Trauma”.

‘1 in 4 Australians are living with Childhood Trauma at this current moment’

Get involved this October by:

• By holding an event in your workplace or community
• Sharing through social media
• Purchasing Blue Knot Foundation merchandise
• Make a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.blueknot.org.au/BlueKnotDay

ONE DAY: ONE FOCUS: ENDING POLIO 

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. Most know it as polio virus. The virus is spread from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine.

“The number of worldwide polio cases has fallen from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to 407 in 2013—a decline of more than 99% in reported cases.”

Continue this fall in Polio by:

• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Donating

For more information, visit: https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day

This is an initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining good bone health.

In 2019 the campaign will feature “THAT’S OSTEOPOROSIS” as a headline, and, for the first time, will highlight emotionally impactful visuals and stories of real people living with osteoporosis in all regions of the world.

“There are approximately 12,000 spinal cord injuries each year,which are associated with a significant mortality rate.”

Height loss, curved back and sudden unexplained back pain are all warning signs. If osteoporosis is diagnosed there are positive steps to help manage your bone health.

To get involved this October:

• Raise awareness on social media
• Donate to the foundation
• Volunteer

For more information, visit: 
http://worldosteoporosisday.org/

National Safe Work Month is held in October each year. It aims to build awareness of work health and safety and encourage discussion about the importance of WHS issues.

Since Safe Work Australia’s inception, there has been a steady decline in the rate of work-related fatalities and workers’ compensation claims.

However, we also know that work-related injury and disease cost the Australian community $61.8 billion in a year.

There’s still work to be done.

Get involved this October by:

• Organising a fundraiser
• Taking care of yourself and colleagues in the workplace
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and every year many events take place during October including the National Awareness Event, Light it Red for Dyslexia, which started in 2015.

Light it Red for Dyslexia is an annual event that is administered by Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia on behalf of the national Dyslexia Support Groups. Throughout the month of October significant monuments and buildings around Australia are lit up in the colour red for Dyslexia Awareness.

Dyslexia is the most common form of learning difficulty.  Problems with reading, and related difficulties, comprehension, spelling and writing are common for these students.

Get involved this October by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Informing the community
• Making an effort to spread the message
• Donating for research

For more information, visit:
https://speldnsw.org.au/news/speld-nsw-is-red-for-dyslexia-awareness-month/