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The health workforce plays an integral role in increasing cervical screening participation and helping prevent cervical cancer in Aboriginal communities.
Cervical screening is for all women and people with a cervix aged 25–74. Just one test every five years can protect against cervical cancer.
How can Aboriginal women access cervical screening?
There are two ways women can have a Cervical Screening Test:
- they can collect their own sample (also known as self-collection), in private at a health care clinic
- a doctor or nurse can collect a sample.
The Cervical Screening Test is available through a health care provider at:
- Aboriginal Medical Services
- Women’s health centres
- Local GP clinics
- Family Planning Clinics
The Cervical Screening Test can also be done as a part of the 715 health check.
How you can help
Host a yarn and screening gathering with your local community
A community gathering can be a great way to yarn safely about cervical screening. A range of resources are available to support community yarns:
- An educational Flipchart ‘Yarning about Aboriginal Women’s health business: Cervical Screening’ and facilitators’ manual is available.
- Motivational items for yarning group attendees are available to order free of charge, including bookmarks, earrings, coin purses and water bottles. These are designed to encourage screening and start community conversations.
Offer a private space and support for cervical screening self-collection tests on the same day if you can, or take appointments for clinician collected testing.
Two clinical resources are available for community members, to support culturally safe screening:
- Pouches for discreet self-collection
- Modesty covers for use in the clinic, for tests conducted by a nurse or doctor.
Patients are welcome to keep their pouch or modesty cover after their test.
To order any of these resources please email CINSW-CervicalScreening@health.nsw.gov.au
All items feature artwork by Aboriginal artist Madison Connors and have been specifically designed to support culturally safe cervical screening for Aboriginal women.
Promote self-collection as an option
Self-collection is available for anyone who may be more comfortable collecting their own sample. Pouches for discrete self-collection are available to order free of charge. The National Cervical Screening Program also has resources to support your work in the community by promoting self-collection.
Increase cultural safety in the clinic
Display resources such as posters and digital video screens for Aboriginal clients and offer modesty covers for clinician collected Cervical Screening Tests.
Use our guide to help you organise cervical screening health promotion activities
Find tips on how to organise cervical screening health promotion activities that can improve cervical screening in your local area by browsing the online guide.
Join the NSW Aboriginal Cervical Screening Network
This Network aims to increase participation in cervical screening amongst Aboriginal women in NSW. It includes Aboriginal health workers, allied health workers from local health districts and primary health networks, and staff from Aboriginal Medical Services who come together to share ideas and resources. If you'd like to join the network, contact our team.
Together, we care for kin and country and move closer to eliminating cervical cancer for the next generation of Aboriginal women
Explore more resources
Access cancer resources for the NSW Aboriginal health workforce. Support mob in prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.