Our cervical screening program provides in-language health education and cervical screening self-collection for migrant and refugee communities in Metropolitan Melbourne.
About the Cervical Screening Program
Cervical screening is an important way to help prevent cervical cancer. It checks for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common infection that can cause changes to the cervix and, over time, cervical cancer.
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH), in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria, is providing in-language health education sessions and cervical screening self-collection for migrant and refugee women, pregnant people and people with a cervix in Metropolitan Melbourne.
The program aims to increase access to cervical screening by providing information and support in community languages and creating a safe and culturally responsive space to ask questions and access screening.
What to Expect
Health education sessions are delivered by trained bilingual health educators and provide information about:
- cervical screening and why it is important
- HPV and cervical cancer
- what to expect when having a cervical screening test
- cervical screening self-collection
- when and how often to have cervical screening.
Participants can also choose to complete a cervical screening self-collection. Self-collection allows you to collect your own sample in a private and comfortable space, with support available from a trained health educator.
Where required, screening can also be facilitated with a female doctor present in a private and safe space.
Languages Available
Health education sessions are available in:
Mandarin | Cantonese | Vietnamese | Hindi | Arabic | English
Cervical Screening for Migrant and Refugee Communities
People from migrant and refugee backgrounds may experience challenges accessing cancer screening when health information and services are not designed to meet the diverse cultural and language needs of the community. Limited access to in-language information, culturally responsive care and clear guidance about screening options can make it harder to navigate and access services.
Providing culturally responsive, in-language health education can help people feel more informed and confident about cervical screening and understand their options for accessing care.
This program aims to support more migrant and refugee women, pregnant people and people with a cervix to access cervical screening and make informed decisions about their health.
Collaboration
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is delivering the health education and cervical screening program in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria.
The program is supported by funding from Cancer Council Victoria.
Book a Session
Contact programs@mcwh.com.au or call (03) 9418 0999