The purpose of the SunSmart Global UV App is to reduce the number of people globally developing skin cancer and experiencing UV-related eye damage. The SunSmart Global UV App was launched in June 2022 by the World Health Organization in conjunction with the World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Program, and the International Labour Organisation. The development of this work was led by Cancer Council Victoria in conjunction with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The app was officially launched in Australia audiences in January 2023 supported by a public relations campaign. As of the end of March 2024 they were nearly 400,000 downloads of the SunSmart UV app worldwide.
The SunSmart Global UV App gives sun protection advice to anyone with a mobile phone, wherever they are in the world. The app seeks to deliver worldwide consistency to UV reporting and public health messaging based on the Global Solar UV index. It is the only UV App of its type that was developed from the ground up to influence sun protection behaviors.
In this presentation the development of the SunSmart Global UV App will be explored , alongside a reflection of the lessons learnt throughout its journey to release and its ongoing management. These insights will enrich the understanding of effective app development and future endevours on leveraging digital innovations for improving public health outcomes.