National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.¹ and the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death.² On average, 122 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 31 people die from the disease.³

Bowel cancer screening can detect changes in the bowel that may be due to cancer, allowing further investigation and treatment where appropriate. The participation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is estimated at 19.5%.⁴ It is likely that higher participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in bowel cancer screening would contribute to improved outcomes for bowel cancer through earlier detection and treatment. An alternative pathway for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is being piloted to encourage participation in the screening program.³

For more information about the broader Australian community see the NCCI ‘Colorectal screening rates’.

Data availability

There are currently no national data available for this indicator.

The participation rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is not available because of the variable quality of data collected about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification.⁵

In the absence of national participation data, an interim measure for participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is the number of National Bowel Cancer Screening Program kits returned by people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Further information

• Cancer Australia. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework. Priority area 3: Increase access to and participation in cancer screening and immunisation for the prevention and early detection of cancers
• Cancer Australia. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Step 1: Prevention and early detection
• Menzies School of Health Research. National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Incidence. Web report. Last updated 15 Mar 2018. [Accessed 1 June 2020]

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Mortality. Web report. Last updated 15 Mar 2018. [Accessed 5 June 2020]

3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Colorectal cancer (C18–C20). Web report. Last updated 15 March 2018. Web report [Accessed 1 June 2020]

4. National Indigenous Bowel Screening Pilot. [Accessed 1 June 2020]

5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: monitoring report 2019. Cancer series no. 125. Cat. no. CAN 125. Canberra: AIHW.