Promote cervical screening participation in Victoria

Cancer Council Victoria's latest cervical screening campaign aims to increase cervical screening participation in regional Victoria and help spread the word about the self-collect option, which can help to address many of the barriers to participation.

The campaign will run for six weeks, and encourages regional Victorian women and people with a cervix eligible for cervical screening to visit our website to find out more about cervical screening and self-collection to protect their health.

Cervical screening participation rates in many parts of regional Victoria are lower than the statewide average. Furthermore, people living outside of the major Victorian cities are 18% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer compared with those living in the major cities.

To support the campaign, Sexual Health Victoria is boosting its telehealth cervical screening services to increase access to this life saving test for regional Victorians.

This campaign is being delivered under Cancer Council Victoria’s 5-year Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy, funded by Cancer Council Victoria and the Freemasons Foundation of Victoria.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and can be successfully treated, if found early, through regular cervical screening. Yet, in Victoria around one in three eligible people are not participating in this life-saving test.

The Cervical Screening Test looks for a very common virus called human papillomavirus or HPV, which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. Finding HPV early and treating any cervical cell changes it may cause is your best protection against developing cervical cancer.

Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every five years under the National Cervical Screening Program.

You can now choose how you have your Cervical Screening Test. You can choose to have a doctor or nurse do the test using a speculum and a small brush or you can self-collect your test, using a small swab.

Self-collection is done in a private space at the doctors or other health settings, usually behind a curtain or in the bathroom. It’s quick, easy, private and just as accurate at detecting HPV as a test done by a doctor or nurse.

The option to self-collect can help address many of the barriers experienced by people in participating in cervical screening by providing a more private, comfortable and less invasive option. 

People who struggle to access a doctor's clinic may be able to book a telehealth appointment and have a self-collected test kit sent to them.

To support this campaign, Sexual Health Victoria has boosted its telehealth cervical screening services to increase access to this life-saving test for regional Victorians.

Eligible people can use our online Cervical Screening Directory to find a provider near them or via telehealth that supports their needs.

Help to protect more women and people with a cervix living in regional Victoria against cervical cancer by sharing content from the campaign with your networks.

Below you will find text and images for your newsletters, website and social media pages that you can copy and paste and share with your audiences.

• Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers, if found early.
• Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus spread through sexual contact.
• A Cervical Screening Test (which replaced the Pap test) looks for human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Finding HPV early gives you the best protection against cervical cancer.
• If you are a woman or person with a cervix aged 25 to 74, you need to do a Cervical Screening Test every five years, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
• You have a choice for your next Cervical Screening Test. You can have the test done by a doctor or nurse, or you can self-collect your test, using a small swab.
• If you can't get into a clinic, you may be able to book a telehealth appointment and have a self-collected test kit sent to you. Speak to your healthcare provider about this option.
• Self-collection is done in a private space at a healthcare clinic, usually behind a curtain or in the bathroom.
• Self-collection is quick, easy, private and just as accurate as a test done by a doctor or nurse.
• Telehealth appointments for cervical screening are available for women and people with a cervix living in regional Victoria. Book a telehealth appointment for a self-collected Cervical Screening Test with Sexual Health Victoria.
• Use Cancer Council Victoria's Cervical Screening Directory to find a cervical screening provider that suits your needs.
• Find out more about cervical screening and the self-collection option at cancervic.org.au/cervical.

Download the images below and help spread awareness of our campaign and its important message.

Don’t forget to tag us at @cancervic so we can see your posts!

Are you a health professional or do you work with health professionals? Find out what you can do to support cervical screening participation in Victoria.
 

1. Victorian Cancer Registry. (2023) VCR Data Explorer: Variation in cervical cancer incidence for all females in the period 2019-21. Available from: Victorian Cancer Registry - Cancer Council Victoria (cancervic.org.au)