Frequently asked questions about the cervical program

The NCSP is an Australian Government initiative designed to reduce illness and death from cervical cancer. Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 years of age are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years through their healthcare provider.

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 women and people with a cervix to screen for cervical cancer once they turn 25
• 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 cervical screening, the NCSR will send you an invitation to start screening, or a reminder of when your next screening is due.

You can use the Participant Portal to check your screening status and when you are next due to screen.

All cervical screening participants now have the choice to self-collect their own Cervical Screening Test sample. The self-collected sample is taken from the vagina and is checked for human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common infection that causes almost all cervical cancers.

If you are due for screening and would like to collect your own sample, speak to your healthcare provider. If they determine the test is suitable for you, they will give you a swab and instructions on how to collect your sample.

Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website for more information.

You can manage your participation in the cervical program by using the Participant Portal, submitting a webform, or calling us on 1800 627 701:

• Defer your next cervical 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 cervical program: It’s your choice to participate in the cervical program. Before opting out, we recommend reading important information about opting out
• Resume participation in the cervical program: If you previously opted out of the NCSR, you can choose to resume participation at any time

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 have not received your last cervical screening test result, we suggest you take the following action:

1. Call your nominated healthcare provider and ask if they have received your results
2. 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
3. Call the NCSR Contact Centre on 1800 627 701 to see if your last screening test results have been received

You might still receive correspondence if the state or territory register did not provide your opt-out information to the NCSR.

To cease correspondence for the cervical program, use the Participant Portal, submit a webform, or call the Contact Centre on 1800 627 701.