Together, Cancer Council Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer are launching a campaign to raise awareness of the self-collection test for cervical screening – a test that is set to be a game-changer for increasing cervical screening participation with those who have never screened or are overdue.
This National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, Cancer Council Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the self-collection option for cervical screening.
Self-collection became universally available in Australia on 1 July 2022 and allows all women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 who are eligible for cervical screening to collect their own vaginal sample with a swab and without the need for a speculum. Self-collection is just as effective and reliable at detecting HPV as a Cervical Screening Test completed by a doctor or nurse with a speculum.
Recent AIHW data shows only around 62% of eligible Victorians are participating in the National Cervical Screening Program. Self-collection is expected to be a game-changer for increasing screening participating amongst people who have never screened or are overdue, however awareness is still low in the community around this new option.
The campaign encourages those due or overdue for a Cervical Screening Test to speak to their doctor about self-collection or visit the Cancer Council website for more information.
Healthcare professionals are being called on to ensure they are ready to offer self-collection and to increase cervical screening through promoting the self-collection option to their patients. Healthcare professionals can find more information and resources about self-collection here.
Organisations and individuals can support the campaign by sharing campaign messages with their networks. Prepared content and assets can be found in the campaign communications kit. Healthcare professionals can share self-collection messages with their professional networks using the health professional campaign toolkit.