Due to its great success, we recently relaunched last year’s bowel cancer campaign on social media platforms to raise awareness of bowel cancer amongst the Aboriginal West Australian community. The campaign encourages eligible people to do the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) home test.
The issue
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer affecting the Aboriginal Australian community but is one of the most treatable cancers if found early.
The NBCSP has reported less than half of all eligible West Australians participate when they receive the home test kit which is designed to detect bowel cancer in its very early stages. When detected early, more than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be treated successfully.
Help us increase participation amongst the Aboriginal West Australian community by sharing our bowel cancer screening social media campaign.
The campaign
The campaign shares social media tiles featuring local people who are keen to share the message about bowel screening with their communities and encourage more people to do the NBCSP test when they receive it in the mail.
We also teamed up with Mary G, an Aboriginal personality, educator, and radio presenter to raise awareness of bowel cancer amongst the Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal communities.
We developed the campaign in consultation with Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia and Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service. In the process, we also consulted Aboriginal Medical Services, Elders, and Aboriginal staff from local clinics and organisations in the regions, including WA Country Health Service.
How you can help
If you are a health professional or live in one of the targeted regions, simply share the campaign resources available in your newsletters, to your networks, and on your website and social media platforms.
Help us ensure all eligible Western Australians feel informed and empowered to take the test.
Phase 1 Campaign assets to share:
- Mary G bowel cancer screening campaign video (45 seconds)
- Mary G bowel cancer screening campaign video (30 seconds)
- Mary G bowel cancer screening campaign video (15 seconds)
- Testimonial social tiles (right click and save image)
If you have any questions or would prefer to be emailed the files, please contact the Cancer Council WA Bowel Screening Team bowel@cancerwa.asn.au
More information
- Check out the Cancer Council’s information and resources about bowel screening for Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander people
- Visit the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Frequently Asked Questions
- Order a free replacement kit on the National Cancer Screening Register website
This project is supported by the Brigid Anne Milner and Cecilia Marie West Endowment Trust established by the generous bequest of the late George Henry Milner.