More about the campaign
Campaign overview
As of 1 July 2022, all women and people with a cervix under the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) will be able to self-collect their own sample for cervical screening. The change will give participants a choice in screening method – either clinician-collected or self-collected. Universal access to self-collection has the potential to mitigate some of the cultural and personal barriers that may discourage some people from screening, especially:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women;
- culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
- those who identify as LGBTIQ+;
- those with disability;
- those who have experienced sexual violence;
- post-menopausal women; and
- those who have had previous negative cervical screening experiences.
The At Your Cervix: self-collection campaign comes at an opportune time to proactively communicate the availability and importance of self-collection as an alternative option for screening participants.
This campaign is focused on maximising the uptake of cervical screening by increasing the awareness, understanding and confidence in self-collection for cervical screening. With two options for cervical screening now available, this campaign is a strong reminder for women and people with a cervix to prioritise their health by booking their Cervical Screening Test.
Funded by the WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, the aim of the At Your Cervix: self-collection campaign is to:
- increase awareness among health professionals and the wider community of upcoming changes to the NCSP Self-collection policy.
- increase cervical screening participation to protect the health of our communities and ultimately save lives.