Screen Me! Stakeholder packs for health organisations

A new campaign, Screen Me! is encouraging women and people with a cervix with disability to make an appointment and get their regular cervical screen. It’s a joint project between the Daffodil Centre (a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney) and the Centre for Disability Studies (an affiliate of the University of Sydney).

Australia is on track to one day eliminate cervical cancer, but we need to make sure no-one is left behind. We know that people with disability are less likely to receive cervical screening than the general population. While this is due in part to low awareness of the importance of cervical screening among the general population, including people with disability, it is also related to factors that can be addressed by health practitioners:

• Poor physical accessibility in clinical spaces, and lack of time to discuss accessibility needs and concerns with health practitioners
• Hesitation in discussing or disclosing sexual activity to health practitioners
• Incorrect assumptions about the sexual activity of people with disability.

Women and people with a cervix with disability live rich and full lives, including being in and enjoying sexual relationships. Sadly, they’re also more likely to be impacted by sexual assault. Screen Me! is a reminder that people with a disability have the same right to preventative healthcare as anyone else.

The campaign has created a new film that features the stories of four women and people with a cervix with disability discussing the importance of cervical screening. You can watch the film on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Alongside the film and advertising campaign, a Screen Me stakeholder toolkit for health organisations is also now available! The aim of the toolkit is to equip stakeholders with communication tools and resources to promote cervical screening and further the reach of the Screen Me! short film and campaign. They contain images, and editorial content regarding cervical screening for women and people with disability that can be used directly or adapted or edited for external channels.

Published on: October 30, 2024

Last updated on: October 31, 2024