Landscape architects and other design professionals will soon be able access an accredited training course to learn about the latest in best practice shade design. The ShadeSmart program, which is being developed by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Cancer Council NSW and the Cancer Institute NSW aims to develop a robust education program to support landscape architects and improve their awareness and understanding of quality shade for UV and heat protection.
Landscape architects and other design professionals will soon be able access an accredited training course to learn about the latest in best practice shade design. The ShadeSmart program, which is being developed by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), Cancer Council NSW and the Cancer Institute NSW aims to develop a robust education program to support landscape architects and improve their awareness and understanding of quality shade for UV and heat protection.
Cancer Council NSW’s Skin Cancer Prevention Manager, Liz King said well-designed and correctly positioned shade is key to providing protection from UV radiation where it is needed, at the right time of day and at the right time of year. “Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. It is our most common cancer with 2 in 3 Australians receiving a diagnosis. Good-quality shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75 per cent. ”The overarching goal of the ShadeSmart program is to identify a strategic skin cancer prevention program of work relevant to the AILA membership and the broader community of design professionals. We urge design professionals across NSW to use this as an opportunity to get on board with improving the quality of shade design to ultimately improve the health of communities across NSW,” Ms King said.
The program is focused on four key areas: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through AILA, influencing relevant planning and design policy and standards, promoting best-practice shade through AILA awards, and conducting research into shade design and technology. Director of Cancer Screening and Prevention at Cancer Institute NSW, Sarah McGill, said the partnership will help improve access to quality shade, one of three key areas of the NSW Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy. “As the state’s cancer control agency, we have a leading role in reducing the incidence of skin cancer in NSW. Engaging with industry and working with trusted experts is key to developing an educational program that will give landscape architects the tools they need to design quality shade.”
Andrew Turnbull, a Fellow of AILA said the program will be opportunity to address a knowledge and research gap amongst design professionals about what is good shade for UV protection. “To date there has been a focus on heat mitigation, climate resilience and green infrastructure that is largely silent on quality shade for UV protection. Now, through this partnership, we are better placed to engage with design professionals and provide a strategic offering that will help address this gap.”
The NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, invests around $170 million each year to lessen the impact of cancer and improve cancer care in NSW.
The program is scheduled to be launched 2021-22 and rolled out across NSW before being available nationally.
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Invitation to join our AILA Advisory group: Please send your EOI to [email protected]
We are seeking AILA NSW members interested in contributing to the Advisory group chaired by Andrew Turnbull [FAILA]