Health Check – Bowel, Breast and Cervical Screening Campaign

Project Overview

Health Check is a community awareness campaign aimed at increasing participation in breast, bowel, and cervical cancer screening within multicultural communities across Australia. This initiative responds to the significantly lower screening rates observed in some multicultural groups compared to the broader Australian population. Health Check aligns with the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030, which prioritises boosting cancer screening participation as a key public health achievement by 2030.

The primary objective of Health Check is to improve awareness and participation in breast, bowel, and cervical cancer screenings. The campaign achieves this through culturally sensitive and effective communication strategies that resonate with diverse communities. By utilising community-led initiatives, the campaign strives to enhance health literacy and increase screening rates, ensuring messages are relevant and accessible to those from various cultural backgrounds.

Health Check recognises the unique needs of multicultural communities and targets specific age groups for screening:

Breast screening: women aged 40 to 74
Cervical screening: women and individuals with a cervix aged 25 to 74
Bowel screening: all genders aged 45 to 74

To ensure the campaign is effective and community-driven, Health Check has partnered with 22 community-based organisations. These partners are actively involved in co-designing communication and engagement strategies, working directly with their local communities to tailor activities that will best meet the needs and preferences of diverse cultural groups.