Promote cervical screening participation in Victoria

Cancer Council Victoria's new In Your Hands campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of regular cervical screening and help spread the word about the option to self-collect, which can help to address many of the barriers to participating in cervical screening.

The campaign will run from March to May 2024, and encourages Victorian women and people with a cervix eligible for cervical screening to visit cancervic.org.au/cervical to find out more about cervical screening and self-collection to protect their health.

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.

Previously, there was only one option available for cervical screening, a sample taken by a doctor or nurse from the cervix using a speculum and a small brush. In July 2022, the option to self-collect your own vaginal sample, using a small swab was made available to all Australians eligible for cervical screening.

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 to address many of the barriers experienced by people in participating in cervical screening by providing a more private, comfortable and less invasive option. This campaign aims support eligible Victorians to participate in cervical screening by increasing awareness and knowledge of the Cervical Screening Test, and the testing options available.

Help to protect more women and people with a cervix living in 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.
• 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.
• Preventing cervical cancer is in your hands.
• Find out more about cervical screening and the self-collection option at cancervic.org.au/cervical.

Option 1:

Preventing cervical cancer is in your hands!

Cancer Council Victoria has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of regular cervical screening and the option to self-collect your test using a small swab.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers, if found early through regular cervical screening. Despite this, almost one in three eligible Victorians are not regularly participating in this life-saving test.

If you’re a women 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.

The test looks for the presence of HPV (human papillomavirus) which causes almost all cervical cancers – finding HPV early is your best protection.

Now, you can choose to self-collect your test, using a small swab. It’s quick, easy, private and just as accurate at detecting HPV as a test done by a doctor or nurse.

If you are due or overdue for your Cervical Screening Test, book in today. Find out more at: cancervic.org.au/cervical.

Option 2:

In your hands: Self-collect your next Cervical Screening Test

Cancer Council Victoria has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of regular cervical screening and the option to self-collect your test using a small swab.

If you’re a woman or person with a cervix, aged 25 to 74, a Cervical Screening Test every five years is your best protection against cervical cancer.

Now, you can choose how you do your test – you can have a doctor or nurse do the test, or you can self-collect your test using a small swab!

A self-collected test is done in a private space at the clinic, such as in the bathroom or behind a screen. You may also be able to take the test home to take the sample and return it to the clinic for testing.

It’s quick, easy, private and just as accurate as a test done by a doctor or nurse. If you’re due for a Cervical Screening Test, book in today and speak to your doctor about your testing options, including self-collection.

Preventing cervical cancer is in your hands.

Find out more 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!

Download and display the poster below to remind eligible Victorians to do their Cervical Screening Test when they are due.

There is also a postcard available to order through the Cancer Council online order form.

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)