Frequently asked questions about the bowel program
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) relate to managing participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).
Refer to our general FAQs page for more information about the National Cancer Screening Register.
The NBCSP is a Australian Government initiative designed to reduce deaths from bowel cancer by detecting early signs of the disease. If found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. Eligible Australians aged 45 to 74 can do a free test at home every 2 years. Learn about the program and how to do the test.
For more information, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
The NCSR is responsible for sending correspondence (invitation and reminder letters) on behalf of the screening programs to eligible people to screen for bowel cancer once they turn 50.
You will have received a letter because you are due or overdue for screening. For more information, contact your healthcare provider or the NCSR Contact Centre on 1800 627 701.
If you are eligible for bowel screening and aged 50 to 74, the NCSR will send you an invitation to start screening, or a reminder of when your next screening is due.
People aged 45 to 49, who are an Australian resident with an Australian mailing address will be able to request their first free bowel screening kit by submitting a webform or calling 1800 627 701.
You can use the Participant Portal to check your screening status and when you are next due to screen.
Once your test has been processed by the pathology laboratory, the results will be sent to your nominated healthcare provider and the National Cancer Screening Register.
Pathology test results will also be uploaded to My Health Record unless you have requested otherwise.
For more information on how and when these results can be viewed in My Health Record, visit digitalhealth.gov.au.
You can update your address held in the NCSR by updating your contact details in Medicare.
If your address has changed and you wish to change your primary address details as recorded with Medicare, you will need to contact Medicare directly on 132 011 or visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can use the Participant Portal or call us on 1800 627 701 to provide an alternative address to be used by the NCSR only.
Please do not open any letters that are not addressed to you.
If you have received a letter that is for someone who does not live at your address, the advice from Australia Post is to:
- Write 'return to sender - unknown at this address' on the front of the envelope
- Place the item in a red street posting box or hand it to a staff member at any Post Office for return
If you are aged between 50 and 74 and are eligible to screen you are sent a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test kit every 2 years. If you have not received your kit you can call 1800 627 701 or you can order a free replacement kit.
Please ensure your Medicare address details are up to date by contacting Medicare directly on 132 011 or visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au. If you have requested for alternative contact details to be used by the NCSR, you can check and update these via the Participant Portal or call us on 1800 627 701.
Change to eligible age for bowel screening:
From 1 July 2024, people aged 45 to 49 can join the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. People aged 45 to 49 will be able to request their first free kit or talk with their doctor about getting a kit.
From 1 July 2024, people aged 45 to 49 can join the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).
People aged 45 to 49, who are an Australian resident with an Australian mailing address will be able to request their first free bowel screening kit by submitting a webform or calling 1800 627 701.
You can also ask your doctor about getting a kit.
Your next test kit will automatically be mailed every 2 years after your last screening test is completed.
People with signs, symptoms, or a family history of bowel cancer, should talk with a doctor before screening with the NBCSP.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) is a population-based screening program that offers screening to all people in a target population group for the purpose of detecting disease earlier and improving disease outcome.
The NBCSP’s target population is informed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) approved Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and management of colorectal cancer (Guidelines). In September 2023, the NHMRC approved updates to these Guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, including appropriateness of screening age.
The Guidelines do not recommend a ‘one-size-fits-all’ population-scale approach to screening for people outside the age range of 45 to 74. Instead, clinical guidance recommends talking with your doctor about screening options.
Your doctor is best placed to explain the benefits and potential harms of bowel screening in context of your individual health situation. Your doctor may recommend bowel screening available via Medicare. Bowel screening kits are also available for purchase at pharmacies or online.
Find out more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
As part of the 2024-25 Budget, the Government announced from 1 July 2024, people aged 45 to 49 are eligible to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). This decision was taken after carefully considering the implications for the broader health system, including the benefits, costs and flow-on effects.
This means people aged 45 to 49 can join the NBCSP by requesting their first free bowel screening kit be mailed to them from 1 July. Their next test kit will automatically be mailed to them every 2 years after their last screening test is completed, consistent with existing program practice across all eligible ages.
People with signs, symptoms, or a family history of bowel cancer, should talk with a doctor before screening with the program.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) is a population-based screening program that offers screening to all people in a target population group for the purpose of detecting disease earlier and improving disease outcome.
The NBCSP’s target population is informed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) approved Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and management of colorectal cancer (Guidelines).
In September 2023, the NHMRC approved updates to these Guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, including as it relates to appropriateness of screening age. These updates included a recommendation to lower the screening age for population bowel cancer screening from 50 to 45.
The Government announced that from 1 July 2024, people aged 45 to 49 are eligible to participate in the NBCSP.
If you have not received your last bowel screening test result we suggest you take the following action:
- Call your nominated healthcare provider and ask if they have received your results
- Check that your address and contact details are up-to-date. The NCSR obtains your primary contact details through Medicare which you can contact directly on 131 011. If you have requested for alternative contact details to be used by the NCSR, you can check and update these via the Participant Portal or call us on 1800 627 701
- Call the NCSR Contact Centre on 1800 627 701 to see if your last screening test results have been received
You can manage your participation in the bowel program by using the Participant Portal, submitting a webform, or calling us on 1800 627 701:
- Defer your next bowel screening date: You can request to change (defer) the date of your next screening for a defined period, perhaps because of travel or health reasons
- Opt out of the bowel program: It’s your choice to participate in the bowel program. Before opting out, we recommend reading important information about opting out
- Resume participation in the bowel program: If you previously opted out of the NCSR, you can choose to resume participation at any time