Cancer Screening

SEMPHN is working to increase cancer screening participation rates for the three national cancer screening programs: bowel, breast and cervical cancer.

The focus is on population groups in local government areas who have never been screened or are overdue for a cancer screen.

Breast cancer screening

Why is this service needed?

In the SEMPHN catchment, there have been high rates of avoidable deaths from breast cancer in Kingston, Cardinia, Glen Eira, Mornington Peninsula and Frankston. There are low rates of participation in screening for breast cancer in Stonnington (West), Port Phillip, Casey (South) and Frankston. 

More information on these numbers can be found in our Core Needs Assessment (2019). 

Who have we commissioned?

BreastScreen Victoria (BSV) has been commissioned in 2020-21 to ensure the sustainability of screening (every two years) for clients who previously screened in commissioned activities from 2018-2020, as well as trial some new engagement strategies, including:

• Bringing the Mobile Screening Service back to the City of Dandenong and Casey ensuring those who screened in 2018-19 do not lapse from the program. 
• Additional out-of-hours appointments trialled at five BSV clinics servicing the SEMPHN catchment
• In-language SMS reminders for lapsed clients. The SMS was trialled in Greek, Polish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese. 
• Communications to lapsed and new clients to increase screening participation in these regions. 
• A qualitative research project will look at new strategies to increase screening participation for people ageing into the program (aged 50).

Bowel cancer screening

Why is this service needed?

There is relatively low participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program among people aged 50-74 years in the SEMPHN region, particularly in Casey South, Stonnington West and Dandenong. 

More information on these numbers can be found in our Core Needs Assessment (2019). 

Who have we commissioned?

SEMPHN currently commissions Cancer Council Victoria (CCV)–in a 2.5-year project–to deliver the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) across the region to:

• Increase participation rates by an additional 7,000 screens over what would normally be expected.
• Partner with Professor Jon Emery from the University of Melbourne to support the academic component of this project, providing valuable research updates and information to GPs, practice managers and nurses in the region. Access the online component here.
• Reaching vulnerable and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities through community resources, activities and information sessions. 

See more information about cancer screening for General Practice and Health Professionals.

Associated tags

• bowel cancer
• breast cancer
• cancer screening
• cervical cancer
• commissioning