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National Cervical Screening Awareness Campaign

Cervical Cancer is preventable. Through cervical screening every 5 years, rates of cervical cancer can be reduced and lives saved.

 

Cervical Screening

The Cervical Screening Test looks for HPV, a common infection and the cause of almost all cervical cancers.

The Cervical Screening Test can find HPV or changes in the cervix early so they’re easier to monitor or treat before cancer has a chance to develop.

 

Who should have a Cervical Screening Test?

You should have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years if you:

  • are a woman or person with a cervix; or
  • are aged 25 to 74 years old; or
  • have ever had sexual contact.

This includes people who:

  • have or have not had the HPV vaccine; or
  • are pregnant or have had a baby; or
  • identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual; or
  • are non-binary, transgender or intersex and have a cervix; or
  • have a mental or physical disability.

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Screening options

If you are eligible for a Cervical Screening Test, you have the choice to either:

  • do the test yourself using a thin, soft swab to collect a sample from your vagina; or
  • have a doctor or a nurse take a sample using a speculum to access your cervix.

Both options are safe and accurate at detecting HPV.

The self-collected test sample only checks for HPV. If HPV is found, you may need to return for a doctor-collected test to investigate further.

The doctor-collected test sample is also checked for HPV. If HPV is found, the same test sample can be used to look for any further cervical cell changes.

If you have symptoms such as unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, your doctor or nurse may advise you to let them do the test for you using a speculum. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any unusual symptoms so they can investigate them for you.

‘Let’s Own It!’ Cervical Screening

In September 2024, the ‘Own It’ campaign was launched, funded by the Commonwealth Government. The campaign focusses on supporting choice in cervical screening and increasing awareness and uptake of HPV self-collection.

Self-collection is:

  • available for all (asymptomatic) women and people with a cervix aged 25-74
  • highly acceptable for many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • just as sensitive for detecting HPV and CIN2+/adenocarcinoma in situ as a clinician-collected test taken with a speculum.

The campaign has a particular focus on priority populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, to ensure no one is left behind in the elimination of cervical cancer. The campaign will be delivered through paid media including national TV, Aboriginal Health TV (in select ACCHOs), social media, Spotify, YouTube, radio, community education and grassroots engagement.

NACCHO is working in partnership with the Department of Health and Aged Care, The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer, ACON and the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative to deliver the campaign.

Cervical Screening Resources

We anticipate that the national campaign will drive demand for HPV self-collection, due to an increased awareness of this option. A suite of clinical and health promotion resources has been developed for ACCHOs to adequately support Community members with the increased demand for HPV self-collection.

These resources alongside additional existing cervical screening resources can be accessed below:

Resources for Community Members