Helping More Australians Access Life-Saving Free Bowel Cancer Screening

Even more Australians will be able to access life-saving bowel cancer screening thanks to the Albanese Labor Government.

The Albanese Government has invested $38.8 million in the Federal Budget to continue funding for bowel cancer screening and lower the age for free screening from 50 to 45.

More than 10,000 people aged 45 to 49 in Dobell will now be eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening program, and across Australia an additional 1.6 million people will be eligible.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia and often develops without any symptoms.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program reduces illness and death from bowel cancer by detecting the early signs of the disease using a free, simple test that can be done at home.

The good news is that if found early over 90% of bowel cancers can be treated successfully.

The changes announced in the Federal Budget will begin on 1 July 2024 and will allow people aged 45 to 49 to request a free bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years.

People aged 45 to 49 can request their first bowel cancer screening kit be mailed to them by visiting www.health.gov.au/nbcsp.

People aged 50 to 74 will continue to receive a bowel cancer screening kit in the mail every 2 years.