Improving Cancer Outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians

Professor Margaret Kelaher will lead research on improving cervical cancer outcomes for Aboriginal women in Victoria, via a new Victorian Cancer Agency grant.

The Victorian Cancer Agency has awarded the Inaugural grant for Improving Cancer Outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians to a team led by Professor Margaret Kelaher from the Centre for Health Policy to improve cervical cancer outcomes for Aboriginal women in Victoria.

Australia has shown global leadership in cervical cancer control with its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program and the introduction of a more sensitive screening test for cervical cancer.  The renewal of the National Cervical Screening Program (rNCSP) is projected to lower cervical cancer rates and deaths by around 30 per cent.  Australia is well positioned to eradicate cervical cancer and this could well happen first in Victoria.  However, achieving this requires making sure that rNCSP is effective in controlling cervical cancer among Aboriginal women.  The project will improve cervical cancer outcomes by harnessing the strengths of the Victorian Aboriginal communities and capacity in research and cervical cancer control and treatment.

Project title: Improving the benefits of the renewal of the National Cervical Screening Program for Victorian Aboriginal women

Investigators: Prof Margaret Kelaher (Lead Applicant), A/Prof Julia Brotherton, Ms Louise Lyons, Prof Sandra Eades, Prof Jon Emery, A/Prof Douglas Boyle, Ms Maureen Turner

Collaborating Organisations: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Victorian Cytology Service, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, BioGrid Australia

Funding: $1,991,700 over four years