Cervical cancer is a worldwide health issue and is one of the most preventable of all cancers.

Australia has one of the lowest rates of cervical cancer in the world. This is largely due to the success of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) (external site), introduced in 1991 as a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative. In Australia, all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 years who have ever had any sexual contact are encouraged to have a Cervical Screening Test every five years, as part of an organised, population-based screening program (external site).

The WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (WACCPP)

The WACCPP is a state arm of the NCSP. The key functions of the WACCPP are to:

• Deliver and support health promotion initiatives that maximise cervical screening participation (with a focus on women that are under-screened or have never screened)
• Build the capacity of health professionals to deliver high quality cervical screening services
• Lead, coordinate and support statewide activities that progress the objectives towards the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia (external site)
• Manage the WA Cervical Screening Register