National Cervical Screening Program

The National Cervical Screening Program reduces illness and death from cervical cancer. Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 years of age are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years through their healthcare provider.

For the public and participants

Find out about the Cervical Screening Test, including how it works and where you can have cervical screening done.

For healthcare providers

Find out about your role in the program and how you can help increase participant confidence in screening.

Find out about self-collection

Participants can choose to collect their Cervical Screening Test sample themselves.

Learn about the program

Discover why it's important to have regular cervical screening.

Eliminating Cervical Cancer

The National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia outlines our goals and future actions to eliminate cervical cancer in Australia by 2035.

View the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia

I want to

  • find out when I’m due for cervical screening
  • change my communication preferences (digital or mail)
  • update my address or contact details
  • opt out or delay screening.

Self-serve at the National Cancer Screening Register Participant Portal, complete a webform or call 1800 627 701.  

We get your address from Medicare. You can also update it on the Services Australia website or by calling 132 011.

You can now change your communication preferences (digital or mail) through the Participant Portal. Based on your selected communication preference, this is how you will receive correspondence from the NCSR. 

Contact the register

SMS reminders for cervical screening

The Australian Government is now sending reminders to screen via SMS.

If you would prefer to get reminders in the post, follow the instructions in the SMS or update your communication preferences in the National Cancer Screening Register Participant Portal.

Public resources

Own It toolkit for the LGBTQ+ community

This toolkit provides communication materials on cervical screening directly targeted toward women and people with a cervix from the LGBTQ+ community.
Note: All content in this toolkit is in English.

Own It community toolkit for Vietnamese speakers

This toolkit provides communication materials on cervical screening directly targeted toward women and people with a cervix who speak Vietnamese.
Note: Content in this toolkit is in English and Vietnamese.

Health sector resources

Cervical Screening Communications Toolkit

This communications toolkit contains key messages, social content, images, and case studies regarding cervical screening that can be used directly, or adapted or edited for external channels.
Date last updated:

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