FIRST NATIONS-LED CAMPAIGN PROMOTES SELF-COLLECTION CERVICAL SCREENING

BY ASAD KHAN

Australia has launched its first national cervical screening campaign in over two decades, aiming to increase participation rates with a new self-collection testing option.

The "Own It" campaign encourages individuals to take their own swab, providing a private and accessible alternative to traditional clinician-collected tests. With $10.2 million in funding, the initiative targets under-screened communities and will run across television, radio, and online platforms.

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects Indigenous people, with the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare in 2018 indicating it is the fifth most common cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

The campaign is part of Australia's broader goal to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.

Dr. Dawn Casey, Deputy CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), emphasised the significance of the campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

"I think it's really important to have culturally appropriate campaigns,"

"The work that Dr. Lisa Whop did on cervical cancer and self-testing was really important, and this campaign builds on that. It strongly promotes self-collection and addresses concerns around privacy and comfort,” she said.

She highlighted the role of Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations in promoting health initiatives for over 50 years.

"We've always known that screening and immunisation are crucial, and we recognise the diversity of language groups across the country,

"It's essential to have a national campaign that meets the needs of urban Aboriginal people while also allowing regional and remote communities to adapt elements to suit their own needs."

Health promotion remains a key focus for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Casey noted, adding that NACCHO had been actively involved in advising on the campaign from its inception.

The "Own It" campaign represents a major step in addressing cervical cancer prevention, offering a culturally sensitive and accessible approach to screening that aims to improve participation rates across all communities in Australia.

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Asad Khan speak with Dr. Dawn Casey: