What’s happening?
Townsville will host a national bowel cancer screening campaign this weekend as the Loo Post arrives at Supercars.
The interactive installation is part of the Australian Government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, delivered in partnership with Cancer Council Australia. It aims to help more Australians understand the free at-home bowel cancer screening test and feel confident completing it.
Visitors will be able to walk through the steps of the screening process in a public, practical setting. The campaign is designed to reduce stigma, answer common concerns and encourage people to post the test back when it arrives at home.
The campaign, Bowel Cancer Waits for No One, also includes community activations such as the Loo Post and the Catch it early cafe.
The Loo Post had its national launch in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall this week and will tour Australia over the next two years.
Why it matters
Bowel cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer, claiming more than 5,000 lives each year.
The risk is serious, but early detection can change the outcome. More than 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated when they are found early.
The free screening program is open to Australians aged 45 to 74. People aged 50 to 74 automatically receive a free kit in the post every two years, while Australians aged 45 to 49 can request their first free kit.
The eligible starting age was lowered from 50 to 45 on 1 July 2024. The change expanded access as the program approaches its 20th anniversary.
Despite the free program, many kits are still not returned. Almost two million kits mailed to Australians nationwide never leave the bathroom.
Local Impact
The Townsville activation comes as Queensland records one of the lowest bowel screening participation rates in the country.
The latest figures show Queensland’s participation rate is 39.3% among people aged 50 to 74. That puts the state ahead of only the Northern Territory.
For Townsville locals, the campaign brings a private health message into a busy public setting. By placing the Loo Post at Supercars, organisers are reaching people outside a medical environment.
That matters because the test itself is done at home. The campaign is trying to show that the process is quick, simple and worth doing.
For eligible residents, the message is direct. When the kit arrives, complete it and post it back.
By the numbers
- Queensland’s bowel screening participation rate is 39.3%, making it the second lowest in Australia after the Northern Territory.
- Bowel cancer claims more than 5,000 Australian lives each year, which is about 100 deaths every week.
- More than 17,000 bowel cancer cases have been detected since the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program began 20 years ago.
Zoom In
Cancer Council Australia CEO Jacinta Reddan said the campaign aims to remove barriers and encourage eligible Australians to act.
“Many people are aware of the importance of bowel cancer screening, however they put it off or life gets in the way. The reality is the test is simple, quick and can be completed at home in just a few minutes.
“We encourage every eligible Australian to do their bowel cancer screening test as soon as it arrives. We know the earlier a cancer is detected and treated, the better the outcome. So if your test is sitting at home, don’t wait, test now. You can give yourself peace of mind by putting your health first.”
Associate Professor of Colorectal Surgery and Colorectal Surgical Oncologist Tarik Sammour said regular screening from age 45 could save lives.
“As a colorectal surgeon, I see the harsh reality of bowel cancer, it’s Australia’s second deadliest cancer. But the good news is it doesn’t have to be, with over 90 per cent of cases able to be successfully treated if detected early. Start screening from age 45 and do it every 2 years is the message I want communities to hear right now,” Associate Professor Sammour said.
He said public events can help remove stigma around bowel screening.
“This is why public events like Adelaide’s Rundle Mall ‘Loo Post’ are so impactful. By normalising screening and stripping away the medical jargon, we can remove stigma and show people how quick and easy it is to do the at-home test. If you are aged 45 to 74 you should be completing the test every 2 years. It gives you a 40 per cent lower risk of dying from the disease, please do it!”
Zoom Out
The campaign also highlights a clear geographical divide in screening uptake across Australia.
The latest AIHW figures, released last week, analysed bowel screening participation among people aged 50 to 74 in 2023 to 2024.
State and territory participation rates were:
- South Australia – 47.4%
- Tasmania – 46.7%
- Australian Capital Territory – 45.1%
- Victoria – 44.3%
- Western Australia – 43.1%
- New South Wales – 40.1%
- Queensland – 39.3%
- Northern Territory – 26.9 %
National participation reached 42% in the 2023 to 2024 period.
Evidence shows people diagnosed through the screening program have a 40 per cent lower risk of dying from bowel cancer.
Modelling also shows that if national participation reaches 60%, an estimated 84,000 Australian lives could be saved by 2040.
What To Look For Next?
The Loo Post will continue touring Australia over the next two years, with the aim of raising awareness, reducing stigma and showing how simple the screening test can be.
In Townsville, the Supercars activation gives locals a chance to understand the process before completing the kit at home.
People aged 45 to 74 can check their eligibility, learn more, or request a free kit by visiting www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or phoning 1800 627 701.
