Cancer Council Victoria warns “when you go out, don’t let cancer in” in new campaign via Bastion
Cancer Council Victoria has partners with creative agency Bastion to launch a new multi-channel SunSmart – behaviour change campaign designed to increase sun protection behaviours among Victorian men and women.
Says Angela Morris, chief strategy officer at Bastion: “There’s a dangerous perception amongst many Victorians that when it comes to sun protection, being ‘fairly good, most of the time’ is sufficient, alongside a real lack of awareness of about how serious skin cancer can be. Our campaign is designed to address this complacency by reframing the risk that incidental sun exposure brings and to drive better, more frequent sun protection behaviours.”
The ‘When you go out, don’t let cancer in’ campaign powerfully highlights how repeated exposure to the sun’s UV – through everyday activities such as gardening or walking the dog can cause skin cancer including melanoma that can spread to vital organs. The campaign also launches a new call to action to accompany the established Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide mnemonic. The CTA: Once the UV hits 3, cover up from UV gives people a clear indication as to when they need to protect themselves. It is included in all executions and is amplified in Digital OOH where live real time UV readings will be displayed.
Says Kelly Dienaar, head of media and communications, Cancer Council Victoria: “While we have made significant progress in skin cancer prevention in Victoria, particularly among younger generations, research indicates that only half of Victorians incorporate sun protection into their daily routines during summer. Often, it is the everyday activities that expose people to UV radiation. To ensure the continuity of our effective skin cancer prevention efforts, social marketing campaigns like this serve as crucial reminders of the potential impact of complacency and underscore the importance of protecting oneself from UV radiation.”
Says Chris Searle, creative director, Bastion: ‘The emotive power in this idea is in the juxtaposition – connecting occasions that you don’t associate with skin cancer to the risk of a serious secondary cancer. We believe this will make a real difference in motivating people to use sun protection so that cancer doesn’t get a chance to start.”
The integrated campaign includes OLV, print, digital display, OOH and social media.
Client: CCV
Head of Media and Communications: Kelly Dienaar
Marketing Manager Prevention: Maddy Leigh
SunSmart Program Manager: Emma Glastenbury
Senior Research Fellow: Clover Maitland
Agency: Bastion
Managing Director: Mike Godwin
Group Chief Creative Officer: Simon Langley
National Chief Strategy Officer: Angela Morris
Creative Lead: Chris Searle
Client Director: Madeleine Bakker
Producer: Carolyn Starkey
Production Company: Airbag
Director: Lou Quill
Executive Producer: Renae Begent
Producer: Johanna Rayner
DOP: Joey Know
Editor: Seth Lockwood
Post: Bastion Make
Sound: Rumble
5 Comments
Years of fear campaigns have made us well aware of the dangers, yet here we are. We still see it and carry on doing the same thing. Is this going to make a significant change to sun safe behaviour? Think we need a new tactic now. Seems a little lazy and dare I say it, even with the confronting images, safe.
As someone who lost their dad to skin cancer that was left too late, this rings true. Hopefully it increases awareness.
The choice of “peak covid agoraphobic shut-in anxiety” as a strategic and creative direction here is baffling. And from a health outcomes perspective, massively misguided.
@”If You Leave Your House You’ll Get Cancer”
Maybe, just maybe, you’re overthinking it
Despite the views of many creatives often working from their gut-feel on what works with the audience, using fear in health campaigns continues to be one of the most effective ways to achieve real behaviour change for certain health issues – tobacco use and skin cancer being two of them. Plenty of peer-reviewed research continues to support this in 2023. Might feel outdated to some – but this approach works time and time again.