Anyone passing by the Amaroo School might joke that the students' colourful bucket hats are bright enough to rival the sun.
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In reality, they're competing against it.
The school's staff have adopted the broad-brimmed hats in an attempt to combat an apparent lack of sun safety action in secondary schools.
A recent study by the Cancer Council ACT has shown that secondary school staff, students and parents believe not enough is being done to avoid the sun's rays in schools despite many realising the importance of sun protection.
In a survey of more than 500 year 7 and 8 students, 218 staff members and 400 parents from six ACT public high schools, the study found up to 50 per cent of each group were not sure whether their school had a sun safety policy at all.
SunSmart services co-ordinator David Wild said hat-wearing was the biggest area of weakness.
His study found that while most teachers were encouraged to model hat-wearing habits for students, only 11 per cent thought the policy was strictly enforced.
At least 40 per cent of students said they wouldn't mind wearing a hat but many specified they would only do so if it was made compulsory.
''I think primary schools have a really strong hat-wearing culture and schools can sometimes continue that into years 7 and 8, but once you hit senior years it becomes difficult,'' Mr Wild said.
''A lot of kids are concerned about looking cool but they don't realise that baseball-style hats just don't cut it.
''We're starting to see a lot more photos in the media of sports stars, like the guys from the New Zealand rugby team, training with bucket hats on and I think that's what we need - more role modelling.''
At Amaroo School, at least 95 per cent of staff and 72 per cent of parents thought teachers enforced a sun protection policy and 91 per cent of students said they did not mind wearing a hat.
School principal Richard Powell said a lot of the success hinged on the fact older students and staff were expected to act as role models for the younger children.
''The fluorescent bucket hats not only let the kids know where a teacher is at all times but they really stand out as a fantastic example of what sun protection measures kids should be taking,'' he said.
''At lunch time kids know they can't get away with not wearing one. If you don't have a hat, you have to sit out of the sun.''
Mr Wild said schools could promote sun safety by providing hats, sunblock and shade, incorporating sun-safety messages into classes and changing sport timetables to take place in the morning rather than in the afternoon heat. Breanna Tucker