The children, teachers and families of school will get to enjoy a newly constructed colourbond shade structure.

The School Shade Grant program is complemented by the Community Shade Grants program, which provides shade for community organisations.

Labor Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said it was great for kids to spend time playing outdoors and keeping active.

"These grants mean school children can still enjoy the outdoors while having the necessary shade to be protected from the sun," she said.

"Skin cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer in Australia. It's important we give Victorians the protection they need to stay sun smart.

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"Our grants programs have helped hundreds of schools and community groups provide the protection Victorians need to prevent cancer. Now even more children will be shielded from the sun's harmful rays."

Through this initiative the Victorian Government is helping children to be sun smart and prevent skin cancer, while still embracing the outdoors and keeping fit, active and healthy.

Childhood and adolescence are critical periods during which exposure to UV radiation is more likely to contribute to skin cancer later in life. Schools play an important role teaching effective sun smart behaviours from an early age.

Shade alone can reduce overall exposure to UV radiation by up to 75 per cent when used in combination with other sun protection strategies such as sun screen, hats, sunglasses and protective clothing.

In 2018, melanoma was the fifth most common cancer in Victoria with 3,096 new cases diagnosed and sadly 291 deaths.

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