Rolling out cervical cancer self-collection to help more women access the benefits of early detection

Australia’s on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by the end of this decade. 

But this doesn’t mean we are resting on our laurels. 

Guided by Cancer Council NSW research, the Australian government changed our National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) to make cervical self-collection an option available to all women and people with a cervix in Australia, with the aim of helping more people get screened. 

So, what is cervical self-collection? Why did the Australian government introduce it? And, one year on, what has been the impact? 

Cervical self-collection is designed to ensure more people participate in screening 

At present, only 52% of people eligible for cervical screening are participating. This is well short of the 70% target recognised in the World Health Organization’s strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer. 

As well, research has found that participation is even lower in among groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrant and LGBTQI+ communities, as well as in individuals experiencing socioeconomic barriers to organised screening, people living with disability or living in regional or remote areas.  

This is where cervical self-collection comes into the equation: Our research found that offering cervical self-collection to everyone who’s eligible should help to lift participation rates and further improve cervical cancer survival in Australia. Cervical self-collection gives people more choice and control; it is a less invasive approach to the standard speculum procedure. 

Informed by our research, the Australian government introduced universal cervical self-collection in Australia’s NCSP from 1 July 2022. Those who prefer to have a screening sample collected by a doctor can continue to do so. 

The early signs are promising  

After its first year, we can see that self-collection has already changed the way people access the NCSP. The early signs are very promising. 

After a slow start, the proportion of cervical screening tests that were self-collected vs collected with a doctor has increased.  

In June 2022, it was as low as 2% in NSW. But by August 2023, it was as high as 20%. 

“It’s really promising to see this uptake of cervical self-collection in NSW. With effective promotion, it will play a crucial part in addressing inequities in cervical cancer and screening across Australia”, says Caitlin Vasica, Manager of Community & Screening at Cancer Council NSW. 

What’s next for cervical screening in Australia  

Cancer Council NSW is working hard to raise awareness of the NCSP and self-collection as an option among underscreened communities.  

For example, in the 2022/23 financial year, we conducted 46 activations promoting the program, with 50% of these targeted towards culturally and linguistically diverse communities. 

Looking further ahead, with more people participating in screening, we hope to see even fewer people die of cervical cancer.  

Currently, around 900 women in Australia are diagnosed with cervical cancer and around 250 women die from it each year.

If you are overdue or have never been screened, it is important to get tested. Although self-collection is not yet available to all women, many women are eligible – ask your healthcare provider about it. Women aged 30 or older who haven’t had a screening test in the last four years are eligible for self-collection now. 

Read our story to learn more about the history of cervical cancer elimination in Australia.