Every Shade Every Mob

Every Shade Every Mob aims to strengthen skin health literacy, increase awareness of skin cancer risk, encourage practical, everyday sun-safe behaviours and improve access to culturally relevant information and resources for Aboriginal children, young people and families.

At the heart of the campaign name are two simple but important messages:

• Aboriginal people come in every shade, and everyone can experience sun damage and develop skin cancer, regardless of their skin tone.
• Shade is an important way to protect our skin while spending time outdoors and staying connected to family, community and Country.

Despite living in one of the world's highest ultraviolet (UV) environments, Aboriginal people remain underrepresented in mainstream sun safety campaigns and resources. Misconceptions about skin cancer risk among people with darker skin tones and those providing health care to them, combined with limited culturally relevant health information, can create barriers to awareness, prevention and early detection.

Every Shade Every Mob was shaped by Aboriginal voices, knowledge and lived experiences through co-design workshops, community consultations, surveys and ongoing project governance.

The Aboriginal Community Steering Group played a central role in leading and co-designing the campaign, providing cultural guidance and ensuring that community voices and priorities were reflected throughout its development. We sincerely acknowledge and thank its members: Aunty Annette Garlett, Delys Walton, Kristy Jetta, Kasharla Emmerton-Smith, Joanne Hill, Larissa Jones, De’Karla-Maree Kickett, Sally Smith and Leah Wearne.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Aboriginal children, young people, families, Elders and community members who generously shared their time, knowledge and perspectives to help shape the campaign's messaging, imagery, resources and overall approach

We also gratefully acknowledge the valuable contributions of our project partners, Cancer Council Western Australia, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS); our creative collaborators, Ur Media Agency, Melissa Riley and Kelli Savietto; Aboriginal Elders Aunty Dale Tilbrook and Uncle Noel Nannup

We thank everyone involved for helping create a campaign grounded in community, culture and connection.

Every Shade Every Mob was informed by an Aboriginal-led research program called Ngank Ngabala Ngoonda by the Healthy Skin Team, which found a gap and strong support from community to close it together.

Every Shade Every Mob responds to this need by placing Aboriginal voices, experiences and representation at the centre of campaign development, ensuring resources are informed by research, grounded in community perspectives and relevant to the people they are designed to support.

Created by Noongar artist Melissa Riley Tago, this artwork celebrates the deep connection between people, Country and community, reflecting themes of belonging, togetherness and the importance of caring for one another.

The circular motifs represent gatherings and connection, while the surrounding patterns symbolise family, home and shared spaces. Flowing pathways and tracks weave throughout the artwork, reflecting journeys across Country, with elements representing waterholes, campsites, shelter and shade.

Together, these elements tell a story of community, connection to land and waters, and the importance of spaces where people can gather, rest and feel safe.

Melissa Riley Tago is a descendant of the Wardandi, Wadjak, Ballardong and Wagl Keip Noongar people of Western Australia. Raised in a strong Noongar household, Melissa is proud of her heritage and gathers inner strength from the knowledge passed down from her family. Melissa has a deep connection with her culture, land, and waters. Her artworks are inspired by nature and the colours of nature– plants, waters, elements and the skies, events that happened in her childhood- remembering hunting trips, stories told by grandparents, travelling back and forth to Country, including bushwalking in springtime when all the wildflowers are out in abundance.