Foreword

The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) is pleased to present the Victorian Cancer Screening Annual Statistical Report developed under the Victorian Cancer Screening Framework (VCSF). This report presents the number of completed screening tests and participation rates for the national cervical, bowel and breast cancer screening programs across Victoria, alongside the addition of cervical screening HPV self-collection and time to assessment indicators for both bowel cancer and cervical screening for the 2023 report. The statistics presented in this online interactive report are sourced from the Australian Government’s National Cancer Screening Register and data provided by BreastScreen Victoria.

The VCSF is a governance and funding model that guides Victoria’s delivery and investment in cancer screening programs. The VCSF aims to increase equitable cancer screening participation, enhance primary care and workforce education and monitor screening participation, follow-up and outcomes across the screening pathway.

The VCSF partners, ACPCC, Breast Screen Victoria (BSV), the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), Cancer Council Victoria (CCV), the Victorian and Tasmanian Primary Health Network Alliance (VTPHNA) and with support from the Victorian Government strive to improve prevention and early detection of Breast, Bowel and Cervical cancers in Victoria, particularly among priority communities.

While Victoria has some of the best cancer outcomes globally, they are not experienced equally. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians, people living in rural and regional Victoria and/or low socio-economic areas, people with disability, people from cultural and linguistically diverse or LGBTIQA+ communities are more likely to be under-screened due to a range of unique barriers as well as access issues and ultimately experience poorer cancer outcomes. The VCSF partners seek to bring together data for monitoring at a population level and for priority populations to support cancer screening activity, evaluation and research in Victoria.

Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC)

ACPCC is Australia's leading organisation in cervical cancer prevention with over 60 years of expertise in cancer prevention. ACPCC provides services to implement, support, monitor and manage population health programs, including screening and vaccination.

This unique combination of services along with our multi-disciplinary expertise achieves better health outcomes and ultimately saves lives.

ACPCC acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government and Victorian Cancer Screening Framework partners in developing the Victorian Cancer Screening Statistical Report.

BreastScreen Victoria is a population-based breast cancer screening program that aims to save lives and reduce the impact of breast cancer through early detection. BreastScreen Victoria operates across a network of fixed and mobile screening clinics and assessment services to provide high-quality and inclusive care for the Victorian community.

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) is the peak representative for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria. VACCHO, in collaboration with key stakeholders, lead and support Victoria’s Aboriginal Community to improve cancer screening participation.

Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) is an independent not-for-profit organisation who play a lead role in cancer prevention, research and support. This includes leading the development, implementation and evaluation of cancer prevention and early detection campaigns and programs that address health inequities and enable better outcomes for all Victorians.

The Victorian Tasmanian Primary Health Network Alliance provides a platform for the one Tasmanian and six Victorian PHNs. The Alliance enables the PHNs to collectively achieve the best possible outcomes for local communities and organisations through leadership, collaboration, coordination and synergy.

The Department of Health Victoria envisions a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. An important step toward this future, as outlined in the Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028, includes increasing data and surveillance to expand and monitor the participation of priority populations in cancer screening.

For further information about the Victorian Cancer Screening Annual Statistical Report, please contact us directly at dataandreporting@acpcc.org.au