Program Fact Sheet

PDF printable version of Program Fact Sheet (PDF 43 KB)

• The National Cervical Screening Program was introduced in Australia in 1991, and is a joint initiative of all Australian governments.
• The program aims to reduce illness and deaths from cervical cancer, in a cost-effective manner through an organised approach to screening.
• Cervical screening services are primarily provided by general practitioners. Services are also provided at community or women’s health centres, family planning clinics or sexual health clinics.
• The program is supported by the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee which reports to the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council. Membership is comprised of Australian and state and territory governments.
• The National Cervical Screening Program is a cost-shared program of the Australian and state and territory governments. Funding is provided through the National Healthcare Agreements and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). State and territory governments decide how to allocate funds from the National Healthcare Agreements across a range of health services, programs and activities.
• State and territory governments have primary responsibility for the implementation of the program in their jurisdictions. The Australian Government provides overall co-ordination of policy formulation, national data collection, quality control, monitoring and evaluation.

Cervical cancer prevention in Australia

• Cervical cancer is one of few cancers where screening can detect pre-cancerous lesions that can be effectively treated. The most common type of cervical cancer (squamous) usually takes more than 10 years to develop.
• A Pap smear every two years can prevent the most common form of cervical cancer in up to 90% of cases and is the best protection against cervical cancer.
• The National Cervical Screening Program recommends that all women who have ever had sex need to have regular Pap smears, including those who no longer have sex.
• Women should have their first Pap smear around age 18 to 20, or a year or two after first having sex, whichever is the later and to continue throughout their life until age 70. At 70, a woman’s general practitioner may advise that it is safe to stop having Pap smears if previous smears have been normal.
• Women who have any unusual symptoms, such as unexpected bleeding, discharge or pain, should see their general practitioner, even if their last Pap smear was normal.
• Women with abnormal smear results

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  Page currency, Latest update: 18 May, 2011