Lung cancer has a devastating impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities. It is the most common type of cancer and the most common cause of cancer death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We know that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in lung cancer screening means that more cancers will be detected early, when treatment is more likely to be effective.

NACCHO is working in partnership with the Department of Health and Aged Care and Cancer Australia to ensure that the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program is equitable, accessible, and culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Communities.

About the program

Starting July 2025, the National Lung Cancer Screening Program aims to reduce illness and deaths from lung cancer by detecting it early using a free screening test. The screening test is called a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.

People can participate in the program if they:

• Are aged between 50 and 70 years; and
• Are asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms suggestive of lung cancer); and
• Currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years; and
• Have a history of cigarette tobacco smoking of at least 30 pack-years (1 pack year is equivalent to 20 cigarettes each day for a year).

The program uses both existing fixed low-dose CT infrastructure through private and public radiology services. Mobile screening services will also be delivered by Heart of Australia in some rural and remote areas.

More information is available from the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Training and Resources

Resources will be available in early-mid 2025 to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members, health professionals and Community-controlled health organisations in understanding and participating in lung cancer screening.

Grants

Community engagement grants will be available from mid-2025 to support ACCHOs to develop Community-led, locally tailored, and culturally appropriate activities to support participation and engagement in screening. Additional information on these grants will be available soon.