In a major development for the health of LGBTI* people in NSW, the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health today announced that ACON’s Talk Touch Test campaign would receive much-needed funding from the Cancer Institute NSW.
During her opening address at the third annual Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer (LBQ) Women’s Health Conference in Sydney, Leslie Williams MP unveiled ACON as the recipient of $200,000 from the Cancer Institute NSW. To be provided over two years, the funds will be used the bolster ACON’s efforts to raise breast screening awareness and engagement among LGBTI communities in NSW.
The new funding will build on ACON’s existing work around breast/chest health in LGBTI communities. In what is believed to be a national first, ACON – NSW’s leading LGBTI health organisation – has led a two-year effort to increase awareness of, and participation in, breast/chest screening programs by people in LGBTI communities.
ACON Deputy CEO Karen Price said: “We have been working with our communities over the past 18 months on this health issue and we know that there is a real willingness to engage, increase awareness of, and participation in, breast and chest health behaviours and services.
“Across Australia, 43 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day. This funding is ground-breaking and ACON is grateful that the Cancer Institute NSW has taken this step to broaden the diversity of its efforts to reduce the impact of breast cancer in NSW. While breast cancer most commonly affects people assigned female at birth who are over 50 years of age, anyone with breast tissue can get breast cancer,” Ms Price said.
“We know that LGBTI people tend to have lower screening rates for cancer, which makes increased awareness and participation in screening programs a critical health issue for our entire community. With this funding, we will be preparing specific resources, running a campaign to increase awareness and service access, curating four community events – three in regional NSW – and conducting a new engagement initiative called ‘Team Up to Talk Touch Test’ to drive participation.”
Speaking about the funding, Sarah McGill, Director of Cancer Screening and Prevention at the Cancer Institute NSW said: “Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and the vast majority of these women will not have a family history of breast cancer. Breast screening can find cancers before they can be felt or noticed. We want to detect cancers early, and thereby increase survival rates. This is why we are working hard to ensure all eligible people in NSW are accessing mammograms every two years.
“The Cancer Institute NSW has proudly sponsored elements of ACON’s work with people from LGBTI communities – most recently supporting the fantastic Mardi Gras event ‘Welcome to Breastiville’. The Cancer Institute NSW is committed to increasing the participation of diverse communities in BreastScreen NSW services. We are excited about the innovative approach that ACON is planning to take to engage people in the LGBTIQ community to screen, and look forward to working with them over the next two years.”
Describing the importance of this funding, Ms Price added: “Several factors put lesbian and other same sex attracted women at higher risk of developing breast cancer. We know from our SWASH study that LBQ women smoke at almost three times the rate of the general population, have lower rates for cancer screening, they are less likely to have children – all risk factors for breast cancer – and LGBTI women are not reached by mainstream health campaigns. We know that more generally, transgender and gender diverse people face different barriers when it comes to accessing services. ACON and BreastScreen NSW are working together to better include transgender and gender diverse people when it comes to messaging about breast screening.
“Initially piloted in partnership with the Dykes on Bikes Sydney – and with the generous support of The Aurora Foundation – ACON has engaged more than 800 women, 30 community groups and leaders, and conducted two major events to establish the #TalkTouchTest campaign,” Ms Price said.
“We know people are responding well to these messages and we look forward to working with members of our communities, community-based organisations and groups, and to raise awareness and increase participation of our community in what can be a life-saving decision to have a mammogram or another type of breast or chest health check.”
Over 350 delegates are attending the LBQ Women’s Health Conference at the NSW Teacher’s Federation Conference Centre in Surry Hills. Running from 13-14 July, the national summit on the health and wellbeing of LBQ women is exploring best practice and available research in working with LBQ women around mental health, sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and broader women’s health issues.
ENDS
* LGBTI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex
* LBQ = lesbian, bisexual, queer
MEDIA ENQUIRES
For information from ACON, contact:
David Alexander
ACON Media and Communications Officer
0428 477 042
For information from Cancer Institute NSW, contact:
Melissa Devine
Cancer Institute NSW Media and Communications Manager
0409 437 622
