Introduction: Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early. The national cervical cancer screening program invites eligible people to participate in this free program, every 5 years, enabling early detection of cervical changes requiring treatment, thereby reducing the risk of cancer. However, it is estimated that only about one third of people with a disability who are eligible, participate in the program. Low participation has been attributed to barriers faced by people with a disability, such as inaccessible services, stigma, and poor communication with health professionals. Sexual Health Quarters is seeking to co-design the ideal cervical screening program with and for people with disability.

Methods: Between March and August 2025, SHQ consulted with 98 individuals with disability, 11 carers of people with disability and 18 service providers, to explore barriers and enablers of participation in cervical screening and the components for the ideal model of care. Data were collected via surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results: Four key themes emerged: 1) previous experiences with cervical screening tests; 2) knowledge of importance of screening; 3) recommendations for a home-based outreach model; and 4) elements of the ideal model of care. While most participants called for outreach screening due to increased comfort and accessibility, others expressed some concern about privacy in shared accommodation, safety of home visits, and the need for culturally sensitive care. Overall participants recommended provision of trauma-aware, person-centred care; flexibility in appointment location; use of accessible and inclusive communication formats; female clinicians; interpreter availability; and allowance for support persons during procedures.

Conclusion: The findings indicate strong recommendation for an outreach service, provided it is designed around individual needs and community preferences. This consultation represents the first stage of a co-designed program and offers practical guidance for developing equitable and scalable cervical screening services for people with disability.

Background: In Queensland, participation in the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) remains below the Australian target of 70% (62.3% for 2019-2023). Cervical cancer remains largely a disease of inequity, reflecting barriers shaped by geography, health literacy, culture and access. The Cervical Under-screened SMS Project (CUSP) was established to improve cervical screening participation using behaviourally informed SMS reminders. This methodology has been proven to increase other preventative screening participation rates and CUSP applies this approach for people identified as under-screened through the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR).
Aim: CUSP aims to increase completion of cervical screening testing in the targeted cohorts and strengthen health literacy through inclusive, co-designed SMS reminders that use behavioural insights and education to encourage uptake of both clinician and self-collected cervical screening tests.
Methods: Using NCSR data, women aged 30-39 who were overdue for screening were identified and separated into cohorts based on prior screening history. Messages were developed through modified Delphi co-design workshops with experts in public health, health promotion and behavioural economics. Draft messages underwent a health-literacy assessment and were retrospectively mapped to behavioural principles. Personalisation included first name use, links to local health service directories and self-collection information. Messages were delivered via a Queensland Health digital communications platform (Whispir).
Results: Preliminary data suggest behaviourally informed reminders are increasing completion of cervical screening with variation observed across the behavioural principles applied. Key measures include uptake of completed cervical screening following receipt of the SMS (clinician and self-collection), screening positivity rates, and proportions proceeding to colposcopy or cytology.
Conclusion: CUSP messaging offers a scalable opportunity to improve the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, supporting behaviour change at population level through technology enabled prevention. This approach has potential for broader application across jurisdictions where data is available to support implementation.

Screening and early detection are vital to preventing and successfully treating bowel and cervical cancers, with early-stage diagnoses leading to significantly better outcomes. Despite the success of national screening programs, participation remains lower among multicultural communities, reflecting broader health inequities. Addressing these disparities requires not only awareness, but approaches grounded in co-design, and prioritising community needs and lived experiences.


Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) designed the Supporting Multicultural Communities to Access Cancer Screening project to reduce inequities. We did this by fostering trust and connection with local community health organisations that worked with Punjabi, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Mandarin speaking communities. Building on existing partnerships with organisations experienced in community engagement, CCV provided Victorian Department of Health funding to four grantees to co-design culturally relevant initiatives. Grantees spent three months engaging in a scoping phase with community members to ensure that activities reflected the communities’ needs and appropriately addressed barriers. This was followed by six months of activity implementation focusing on joint approaches of education and navigation into screening. The approach prioritised empathy and flexibility, meeting communities where they are, and using trusted voices to educate and support access to screening.


The grantees achieved strong community engagement, driving high participation and successfully guiding large numbers of previously under-screened individuals into cancer screening programs. Participants reported greater confidence navigating screening pathways, while organisations strongly agreed they are now equipped to discuss cancer screening and actively support community members in accessing services, demonstrating the impact of equity-focused projects.


Listening deeply and valuing diverse lived experiences were a key to success. This approach aimed to embed sustainable knowledge in organisations to continue delivering creative and relevant practices. Future projects would benefit from providing clear resources for people without Medicare access, and strengthening cross organisational collaboration to build upon existing campaigns and amplify impact.

Ensuring accessibility in all cancer prevention initiatives is critical to achieving equitable health outcomes for Australians. Approximately 4.4 million people have disability in Australia, representing 18% of the population.1 People with disability experience disparities across many cancer risk factors, including higher smoking rates, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity.1 This impact is compounded by inequities in key social and economic determinants of health, including income, education, and employment.1

National frameworks such as the Australian Cancer Plan, Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 and the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 note the importance of tailored health promotion and health information. However, without defined accessibility targets, there is a risk that efforts will focus on short-term, one-off initiatives, rather than long-term, integrated activities benefiting all Australians.

What we did:
Cancer Council Australia develops evidence-based cancer control policies to inform our advocacy. In 2025, we released the Disability and Cancer Care Policy, highlighting priorities to improve equity in cancer care for people with disability. However, with rising cancer rates in Australia,2 inclusivity is vital across the cancer control continuum. We are developing an action plan to advance these priorities and highlight opportunities to improve outcomes for people with disability across all stages of cancer.

Results:
This presentation will identify how existing cancer prevention initiatives can be adapted to embed accessibility, ensuring these efforts benefit the entire population. With approximately 21% of all health expenditure in Australia attributed to modifiable risk factors,3 the economic case for inclusive prevention initiatives is clear.

Lessons:
Given disparities in health determinants among people with disability, prevention strategies that overlook accessibility are economically inefficient. Achieving meaningful change in preventative health equity requires collaboration across government, research, and non-government sectors. By embedding accessibility as a core principle of all cancer-related initiatives, we can ensure preventative actions support all Australians.

References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. People with disability in Australia. Canberra: AIHW; 2024.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia. Canberra: AIHW; 2025.
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Health system spending per case of disease and for certain risk factors. Canberra: AIHW; 2025.

Intro:
Early onset cancer (EOC, age 20-49) has been trending upwards globally and nationally, contrasting with declining rates in older groups, with significant increases in new cases and diverse tumour subtypes. Whilst causality is still unclear and under investigation, multifactorial aetiology is implicated, including lifestyle factors at all life stages e.g. diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol and environmental exposures. Also implicated are social and cultural determinants in EOC incidence and mortality among marginalised groups including Aboriginal populations. However, no such analysis has been conducted in South Australia and provides an opportunity to embed equity principles into a-priori prevention programming rather than post-facto.

This study aimed to conduct an analysis of the South Australian Cancer Registry using an equity and prevention lens to ascertain if and how, social determinants may be impacting risk factors, incidence and mortality of EOC.

Methods:
Descriptive epidemiology study
Study population: All invasive cancers reported in the SA Cancer Registry from 1982-2021, excluding multiple primaries and in situ cancers (est. n~37,255). Focussing on Australian national prevention priorities, extracted EOC data will be analysed by Aboriginality, geographical location, and SEIFA index as well as known risk factor prevalence overlays for specific cancers. Risks will be calculated as risk per 100,000 population, and risk ratios and risk differences with associated 95 CI between sub-populations.

Results:
Analysis is in process, however early results have indicated annual incidence increases of up to 6.4% per year depending on cancer type with ongoing increases throughout the study period (1982-2021). There are differences in incidence rates and trends between males and females with other determinants still to be analysed.

Conclusions:
to be updated. Recommendations will include how the findings can Preventive Health SA and the newly established SA Comprehensive Cancer Care Network’s work in embedding equity considerations into statewide EOC prevention work.

Where people live has a profound influence on their health. Across Australia, postcode differences remain clear in the incidence, survival, and burden of chronic diseases such as cancer. Yet policymakers and communities often lack accessible, localised data to understand and respond to these disparities in an evidence-informed way. The Australian Cancer Atlas helps bridge this gap. Developed by Cancer Council Queensland and Queensland University of Technology, the Atlas is a freely available online platform that visualises small-area variations in cancer incidence, survival, and screening participation and risk factors across the country. It transforms complex epidemiological data into clear, interactive maps that make patterns and inequities visible down to suburb level.

As part of a tailored outreach campaign, every Member of the Queensland Parliament was invited to work with us Cancer Council Queensland on customised Atlas infographics that highlighted areas within their electorates with high rates of preventable cancers, combined with preventive health messaging.

MP engagement with the Atlas has led to a range of place-based prevention initiatives, from volunteer-led education activities and media engagement to the integration of Atlas data in parliamentary speeches and joint MP–Cancer Council Queensland community campaigns. Early feedback from MPs highlights the Atlas’s credibility and its value in supporting meaningful, evidence-based dialogue about cancer prevention. This presentation will showcase several MP-led community campaigns that leverage local Australian Cancer Atlas insights on preventable cancers, such as melanoma, lung cancer, and liver cancer. These case studies demonstrate the power of data storytelling to bridge the gap between research, policy, and community.

By translating complex evidence into clear, local narratives, the Australian Cancer Atlas enhances political understanding and community literacy of preventive health and motivates collective action to reduce inequities in cancer outcomes.

Background:
Cancer screening participation rates across Australia remain below national targets, with significant disparities affecting priority populations. Since 2023, Queensland Health has partnered with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to address systemic barriers and strengthen participation in the National Cervical and Bowel Cancer Screening Programs.
Objective:
To improve equitable access and participation in bowel cancer screening and cervical screening by building primary care capacity, implementing targeted community engagement, and promoting system-level change through regional PHNs.
Methods:
All seven Queensland PHNs implemented regionally tailored initiatives under a shared set of guidelines. Activities included:
• quality improvement (QI) coaching in general practice, integration of the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) into practice management software,
• digital and culturally appropriate public awareness campaigns
• support for self-collection for cervical screening
• support for the Alternative Access Model (AAM) for bowel screening

Data were collected on screening rates, practice participation, and engagement outcomes across the programs.
Results:
• Over 300 general practices across Queensland engaged in QI activities.
• Bowel screening participation increased in multiple regions (e.g. Brisbane North PHN: +1.72%).
• Cervical screening saw uptake gains, with some PHNs doubling self-collection for cervical screening rates (e.g. Gold Coast PHN: 21.9% → 42.4%).
• The NCSR integration rate improved (e.g. Brisbane North: 57.9% → 63.6%).
• Community campaigns targeted priority groups, including First Nations, CALD, and males (45–49).
Conclusion:
A state-wide, regionally tailored partnership model has strengthened primary care engagement in cancer screening and begun to address participation inequities. Continued investment in QI, data integration, and inclusive communications is essential to sustain improvements and support innovative models.

Cervical screening participation remains lower among women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Melbourne’s south-east, particularly within Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin and Punjabi-speaking communities. Barriers include limited awareness, cultural stigma, language challenges and a lack of trusted information. To address these inequities, Enliven Victoria collaborated with the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) and Cancer Council Victoria to strengthen culturally informed community-led health promotion.

Supported by SEPHU’s partnership guidance and advisory input, including through its Regional Expert Advisory Group on improving HPV vaccination and cervical screening, Enliven Victoria delivered a place-based initiative across the Local Government Areas of Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong. SEPHU supported project planning with local intelligence, including demographic profiles and screening and vaccination data.
Community Health Champions, members of the Multicultural Community Engagement Network, a collective of community leaders in Melbourne’s South-East, were central to the initiative. They participated in SEPHU and Cancer Council-supported capacity-building workshops, with community engagement and facilitation led by Enliven as part of broader capacity-building efforts. Participants co-designed eight multilingual educational videos, a five-language postcard series and a plain-language presentation. Twelve community education sessions and an event at the Vaishakhi Festival reached more than 475 participants, supported by bilingual facilitation and translated evaluation surveys.

Survey data (n = 157) showed strong improvements in awareness and intention to screen. Knowledge of the national cervical screening program increased from 42 to 86 per cent, and those very likely to screen rose from 47 to 70 per cent.

Empowering trusted community members as educators and co-designers fosters sustainable, culturally grounded engagement. Partnerships between public health units, community organisations and peak bodies can embed prevention within community, addressing equity gaps in screening participation. Continued investment in community capacity-building, multilingual resources and local outreach screening opportunities is critical to normalise screening and ensure prevention is inclusive and people-centred.

Frontline health staff are powerful influencers of preventive health behaviours, yet many lack the knowledge and confidence to effectively promote the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). The Staff Upskilling and Uniform Provision Project (UUPP) was implemented across Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane (March–September 2025), to address this critical gap.

Through concise 30-minute education sessions, 265 nursing staff were trained across multiple hospital sites. A pre-post evaluation using a brief knowledge and confidence survey was conducted immediately before and after each session. Knowledge scores increased from 75% to 89%, with the most significant gains in understanding program eligibility (+32%) and recognising that early-stage bowel cancer is often asymptomatic (+24%). Confidence rose by 64%, with the vast majority of participants reporting they felt equipped to discuss screening, demonstrate the kit, and locate relevant resources. Additionally, 93% indicated they were likely to encourage participation.

These findings underscore the untapped potential of clinical staff as prevention advocates. If those embedded in healthcare settings initially lacked this foundational knowledge, the implications for broader community awareness are profound. The hospital environment proved an effective platform for scalable, low-resource education that can ripple outward into families and communities.

Staff enthusiasm translated into a wave of grassroots innovation, with participants proposing creative, community-informed strategies to extend the program’s reach—transforming a simple education session into a launchpad for broader cultural change in screening engagement.

UUPP demonstrates how targeted, replicable education can embed prevention into everyday clinical practice. By transforming health workers into confident screening advocates, it offers a scalable model for building sustainable systems, improving population screening rates, and ultimately reducing bowel cancer mortality.

Cancer rates are increasing in younger people,1 both in Australia and globally. Australia also has the highest incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer.1, 2 Alongside this, there is a proliferation of misinformation regarding cancer risks, and the benefits of screening for individuals in this age group.

The increase in early-onset cancers has resulted in growing public concern and underscores the need for trusted public health organisations such as Cancer Council to provide balanced, evidence-based messaging to communicate cancer risk. Public health messaging must also effectively communicate the potential harms of screening for younger, asymptomatic individuals, as we know that screening at a younger age can increase the risk of adverse effects, which can outweigh the benefits, especially as the likelihood of the screening detecting cancer is significantly lower3, 4 In our suite of national cancer prevention policies, we create priority areas for action which address modifiable risk factors, as we know that approximately 33% of all cancer cases in Australia are attributable to modifiable risk factors including tobacco smoke, alcohol use, ultraviolet radiation exposure, overweight and obesity, and dietary factors.5

Our presentation will discuss identified priorities and how we are advocating for their implementation to reduce the burden of early-onset cancers, including calling for government action to create supportive environments which promote healthy lifestyles. We will highlight gaps that must be addressed to reduce the burden of early onset cancers, including the need for regular evaluation of cancer screening programs, increased awareness from healthcare professionals on the issue, and an improved evidence base. We will also share how we continue to balance increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer among young people, to prompt early presentation to healthcare professionals, whilst ensuring that we focus the public discourse on the proven strategies to reduce modifiable risk factors in everyday life.

References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia. Canberra: AIHW; 2025.
2. Sung H, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Jiang C, Morgan E, Zahwe M, et al. Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry data. The Lancet Oncology. 2025;26(1):51–63.
3. Markey W, Srinath H. The alarming rise of early-onset colorectal cancer. Aust J Gen Pract. 2025;54(6):392–9.
4. Lew JB, Worthington J, Ge H, Luo Q, Feletto E, Canfell K, et al. Re-evaluating population-level screening recommendations to address increasing early-onset colorectal cancer rates in Australia: a modelling study☆. ESMO Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2025;7:100136.
5. Wilson LF, Antonsson A, Green AC, Jordan SJ, Kendall BJ, Nagle CM, et al. How many cancer cases and deaths are potentially preventable? Estimates for Australia in 2013. International Journal of Cancer. 2018;142(4):691–701.

The Community Survey for Cancer Prevention aims to understand how attitudes, behaviours and beliefs have changed on known cancer risks from 2013 to current day to help build the evidence for Cancer Council NSW’s key policy and advocacy asks. The survey aims to ascertain the community’s understanding of, and support for preventative health measures, including where they get health and prevention information from. This also includes understanding the level of public support for broad and specific cancer prevention policies, interventions and changes.

Data collection will occur for four weeks in early 2026, through online surveys run by survey panel provider ORIMA. Approximately 3,200 people, aged 18+ and living in NSW will participate in the survey, in line with the sample sizes of previous iterations of this survey (2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022), and in an attempt to be representative of the NSW population.

It’s anticipated that there will be an increase in community’s understanding of cancer risks and increased support for policy change to support more funding and government support for prevention activities since the survey commenced in 2013. It’s also anticipated that the community will believe the government is not doing enough to support prevention efforts, especially regarding cancer prevention. Trust in government may be lower than previous years, with an increasing number of people getting their health and preventive information through non-traditional means, such as social media.

The results from the Survey will support Cancer Council NSW’s advocacy efforts, especially in the lead up to the 2027 NSW State election, with potential to have a tangible impact in the government increasing their efforts in preventive health, especially cancer risk factors.

Genomics has the potential to significantly enhance personalised cancer prevention, risk reduction, and early detection. However, to realise this potential, the implementation of effective, adaptive, and responsive national policy is essential, whilst ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place. Evidence regarding the role of genomics in cancer prevention is expanding rapidly, increasing pressure on policymakers to keep pace and establish strategies and frameworks that support implementation. Challenges such as workforce capacity, evidence gaps, unclear models of care, and delays in the adoption of new interventions pose a risk of Australia falling behind international best practice.

Australia has been a global leader in many areas of cancer control, from tobacco regulation to the renewed National Cervical Screening Program. While these policies have undoubtedly been effective, their development and implementation often take years. In the fast-evolving field of genomics, this temporal lag risks policies being outdated or not aligned with current evidence. There is also a lack of clear expertise and leadership in this space, given its new and rapid emergence, and clinicians are not typically aware of the technical aspects of genomics. This creates ambiguity as to who is responsible for the development of policy guidance and advice in genomics.

Cancer Council Australia develops evidence-based policies which inform our advocacy work. We recognise the need for policies to keep pace with genomic evidence, so that its benefits can be realised equitably for all Australians while minimising risks. This presentation will propose tangible actions to strengthen the translation of research into evidence-informed policies that keep pace with this rapidly evolving field. We call for collaboration and clear translation pathways across the health and medical research sector to achieve the timely, effective, and equitable adoption of genomics in Australia’s cancer prevention efforts.