Cancer screening is simple and free. It saves lives — but only when people get screened. That’s why supporting Aboriginal people and communities to participate is key. This month, we highlight new lung and cervical screening resources, share an update on mobile lung cancer screening consultations, and focus on bowel cancer screening for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
Cancer Institute NSW launches new cervical screening campaign
Cancer Institute NSW recently launched the Cervical Screening for Mob campaign to support Aboriginal women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 years to participate in cervical screening, including through self-collection. The campaign is running in May and June across various media platforms (online, TV and radio). Campaign materials including social tiles, posters and videos are available for download.
Cancer Institute NSW also have an updated range of resources and materials to support culturally safe cervical screening. These include:
- Materials to support community yarning (flipchart and facilitators’ manual, merchandise featuring cultural artwork), pouches for discreet swab self-collection, and modesty covers for use during clinician swab collection (all available to order)
- A guide to organising cervical screening health promotion activities in your community
- The NSW Aboriginal Cervical Screening Network, a statewide forum for health workers including ACCHO staff to share ideas and resources
NACCHO’s cervical screening resource collection can also be found here.
Lung cancer screening – Aunty Joan’s story
A new video featuring Aunty Joan Quinlin, a proud Dunghutti woman has been added to the Australian Government’s ‘It’s Good to Know’ campaign promoting the National Lung Cancer Screening program. Aunty Joan talks about her experience of having a low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer and encourages others to do the same. The campaign website also includes an information page about lung cancer screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NACCHO also have a range of lung screening resources, including information and promotional materials (brochures, posters, social tiles and polo shirts) available to order or download.
Mobile lung cancer screening consultations starting soon
From early 2027, Heart of Australia will be rolling out a mobile lung cancer screening service equipped with a CT scanner to selected locations in regional and remote NSW that do not have access to CT services. Heart of Australia will be reaching out to Member Services in the proposed locations in the coming months to support tailored local planning and service delivery. We encourage Member Services to participate – your leadership and expertise are key to an effective and culturally safe approach.
Please contact the AH&MRC Public Health team at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au if you would like further information or support during this process.
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is about to start
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to take a look at these bowel cancer screening resources from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Cancer Council, NACCHO and Cancer Institute NSW – you’ll find information, posters, social tiles, videos and more. Alongside the mail-out test kits, Member Services can boost participation by encouraging people to screen and supplying test kits to those who need them. And don’t forget that people aged 45-49 years can opt-in to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program too.
