The Queensland Government is bolstering its breast screening program to lift participation rates and plan for a more than 20 percent increase in eligible women over the next eight years.
State Health Minster Tim Nicholls said a new $1m mobile screening van, to be based in Townsville, was one of the initiatives under the BreastScreen Queensland Strategic Plan 2025-2032.
Minister Nicholls said the program was planning for significant growth, as the number of women eligible to participate in screening was expected to increase from more than 1.3 million in 2024 to more than 1.6 million in 2032.
He said the strategy also set an ambitious goal of 60 percent participation by 2032, compared to the current 51.3 percent.
“The BreastScreen Queensland Strategic Plan will focus on four priority areas including service delivery, client experience, workforce and advancing cancer screening through research and innovation.”
Minister Nicholls said the new mobile screening van would give regional and remote communities easier access to screening services.
He said it was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that women in the most remote locations had the same high-quality screening services as those in the cities.
“We want to ensure all eligible Queensland women are empowered to participate in having a free breast screen every two years.
“The new $1 million mobile screening van will significantly increase our reach into more regional and remote areas.
“We are also scaling up projects like Sistas Shawl, which provide modesty shawls to help First Nations women feel safe and comfortable during their screening experience.”
Minister Nicholls said breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women and in Queensland, 29 breast cancers were diagnosed weekly.
“That’s why we want to ensure that early detection is prioritised, that we have an agile and flexible workforce and the technology needed to deliver the exceptional person-centred care Queenslanders deserve,” Minister Nicholls said.
He said breast screening was free and didn’t need a doctor’s referral.
Appointments can be booked by calling 13 20 50 or online via breastscreen.qld.gov.au.
