TAL has launched the latest edition of its SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report, with the aim of continuing to shine a light on Australians’ attitudes and approaches to preventative health and skin safety.
The insurer says in a statement that the 2021 report marks the sixth consecutive year of the TAL SpotChecker program – a national initiative aimed at reducing the impact of skin cancer by encouraging Australians to embrace skin safety and have regular skin checks with a qualified professional, as well as regularly self-checking at home.
Supporting the campaign, it has enhanced the online TAL SpotChecker information hub, which has been built as an educational resource aimed at encouraging and empowering Australians to engage with their skin health and embrace skin safety.
TAL Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Alex Homer, says the SpotChecker program reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to highlighting the importance of preventative health for its customers and the broader Australian community.
TAL says its latest report revealed a quarter (25 percent) of Australians said the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented them from getting a skin check this year, while an additional 1 in 4 (24 percent) said the pandemic has distracted them from regularly self-checking their skin.
Dr Priya Chagan, TAL’s General Manager of Health Services, says that in response to Covid, a large number of Australians have delayed getting relevant professional skin checks and are putting themselves at risk of skin cancer going undetected.
“The 2021 research found 29 percent of Australians have never had a professional skin check, and only 36 percent have had one in the last 12 months, while a further 19 percent of Australians admitted they never self-check for signs of skin cancer.
She says that each year, TAL SpotChecker has aimed to contribute to the reduction of one of the country’s most common cancers, “…but it’s clear there is still a long way to go in raising awareness of the importance of prevention and detection of skin cancer.”
She added that with two in three Australians set to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70 – it is crucial that Australians prioritise their health and understand the importance of prevention.
Click here for the TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report and here for more information and resources.
