The government is leading the way for Australia to become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, with the release of the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and a $48.2 million investment to support implementation.

Australia is also making new investments to share its world-leading expertise with the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and work towards a world free of this deadly disease.
 
The National Strategy aims to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue in Australia by 2035. The $48.2 million investment over four years, will improve access to screening and follow up services, as well better data access to target vaccination efforts.
 
The National Strategy was developed by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer after extensive public consultation and sets ambitious targets, and complements the Albanese Government’s landmark Australian Cancer Plan.
 
The new targets include extending the 90% HPV vaccination target to boys, so all children are safe from HPV. It also extends the 70% screening target to 5-yearly participation for 25- to 74-year-olds rather than just twice in a lifetime.
 
The Albanese government is also making a new investment of up to $12.5 million to the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) as part of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.
 
This investment will connect Australia’s world-leading cervical cancer expertise with governments across the region to get HPV vaccine programmes up and running, expand screening and treatment and build health workforce capacity.