The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) are building primary care clinicians’ capacity to provide culturally safe and empowering cervical screening experiences.
Free clinical resources are available for health professionals to offer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients during CST consultations in Victoria including:
- Self-collected CST kits (Aboriginal designed zip-up pouch, specimen bag with swab* and patient instruction card)
- Aboriginal designed towels for clinician-collected CSTs.
The zip-up pouch and towel are gifts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients to take home with them after their CST.
These resources add a positive, culturally safe and confidential option for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients during a cervical screen, which is private and sensitive by nature.
*Self-collection swabs (Copan flocked swab 552C.80) are included for those sending self-collected samples to VCS Pathology. Those sending samples to other pathology providers can still receive the zip-up pouch, patient instruction card, non-transparent specimen bag and towel, and should contact their usual lab to order swabs and other consumables.
Contact CancerJourneyTeam@vaccho.org.au or (03) 9411 9411 for more information or if you are interested in ordering these free clinical resources for your practice.
Additional resources:
- Cervical Screening: Supporting your patients to make the choice (.pdf)
- National Cervical Screening Program Quick Reference Guide (.pdf)
Image above by Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Gamilaroi artist Madison Connors.
Disclaimer: This article was provided by Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
