The Beautiful Shawl Project is a collaborative, Community-led initiative providing safe and empowering breast screening experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by providing a culturally safe and responsive alternative to traditional screening.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The Beautiful Shawl Project provides customised screening shawls to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women that are culturally appropriate, familiar and beautiful to wear during their breast screen. The shawls are designed by talented local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and are gifts for the women to take home after their screen.
From July 2021 to June 2022, BreastScreen Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) collaborated with 12 Aboriginal Community Organisations (ACCOs) to bring cultural screening shawls and accessible breast screens to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women around Victoria.
Breast screening participation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are lower than for other Australians, but participation rates amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are increasing nationally. The Beautiful Shawl Project is supporting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to access culturally safe breast screening services around Victoria.
In 2021-22 as part of the Beautiful Shawl Project:
- 12 ACCOs were involved
- 11 distinctive shawl artworks were developed
- 580 shawls were distributed to ACCOs across Victoria
- 219 breast screens were provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.
Importantly, 89 clients screened when they were due, 76 clients screened for the first time and 54 clients screened who were overdue for their screen. Most screens (71 per cent) were for clients aged 50-74 years.
Here’s what Community members have said:
“It was deadly. I am 56 and never had my breast tested before. It was awesome from the time I walked in the bus seeing our young women greet us and make sure we were all ok. It was a very safe space for Community to come.”
“Gotta say the best mammogram I’ve ever had. Didn’t hurt at all. You get pretty spoilt there too with showbags and tucker.”
Visit the VACCHO website to learn more, see the stunning Beautiful Shawls artwork and download the Beautiful Shawl Project Implementation Model.