More than $300,000 has been committed to train 200 midwives and 50 Aboriginal health workers on the Cervical Screening Test's self-collection option, as NSW sees an upswing in the number of people choosing to collect their own sample for testing.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said in the past 12 months more than 13,000 people in NSW had elected to use the self-collection option. 

“It's just over one year since the self-collection option became part of the National Cervical Screening Program and it's clear self-collection is helping break down barriers and encouraging people to take advantage of life-saving screening," Mr Park said.

“Of these 13,000 self-collection participants, 73 per cent had been at least two years overdue for their five-yearly screen.

“The uptake we're seeing in NSW is testament to the dedication of our health workforce and community partners, who have worked together to educate and support community members on the benefits of cervical screening, including the new self-collection option.

“More than 1,000 NSW health professionals have already been trained on self-collection, with the latest round of training helping us move that one step closer to achieving our goal of eliminating cervical cancer by the mid-2030s."

The Cervical Screening Test is a quick and simple procedure that looks for an infection called human papillomavirus, the cause of almost all cervical cancers.

There are two options to the Test, one is to have a healthcare provider collect a cervical sample, the other is for an individual to collect their own sample. Both are equally effective.

Professor Tracey O'Brien, NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO, Cancer Institute NSW says cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, with more than 70 per cent occurring in people who have never been screened or are not up to date with their screening.

“Last year, cervical cancer took the lives of more than 200 people in Australia, with the Test expected to reduce cervical cancer rates and deaths by 30 per cent," Professor O'Brien said.

“While health professionals take great care when performing the Test, it can be a confronting experience for some, particularly for people from culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQI+ communities.

“Many communities are taking up or returning to life-saving screening because they now have the ability to choose how and where they have the Test, in a way that best aligns with their personal, religious or cultural beliefs."

Midwife and Aboriginal health worker cervical screening training is being delivered free of charge by Cancer Institute NSW, through Family Planning Australia. ​

Training is available to book online for registered NSW midwives​​​ who would like to offer cervical screening and Aboriginal health workers​ looking to promote the Test to their communities.

 Cancer Institute NSW recently partnered with ACON to deliver a highly successful campaign called Own It to help all young people, including members of the LGBTQI+ community, feel empowered by the choice to do their own test.

Recently, close to $80,000 was awarded​ by Cancer Institute NSW to deliver nine projects aimed at increasing cervical screening rates in multicultural communities. ​

Anyone aged between 25–74 who has a cervix and has ever been sexually active, is encouraged to get the Cervical Screening Test every five years.

For more information on cervical cancer and the Cervical Screening Test, visit Cervical screening - Cancer Institute NSW​​