Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — (12 412) My constituency question is to the Minister for Health, and I ask: what is the latest information about what the government is doing to support women to participate in breast screening in the Yuroke electorate and more broadly? I applaud BreastScreen Victoria for their work in this area and in particular their target participation rate of 70 per cent. It is disappointing that the current rate of screening in Yuroke is well below that target, at 51.8 per cent. It is alarming that over 3600 women between 2013 and 2015 simply did not screen. I know we can do better, and I look forward to the minister’s response.

Response:

The Andrews Labor Government is committed to working with BreastScreen Victoria to encourage and support women to participate in breast screening across the state and in Yuroke.

The government recently provided an additional $1.3 million to BreastScreen Victoria to screen an additional 10,000 women across Victoria. This is on top of the 2016-17 investment of $42.5 million in state and commonwealth funding. This will mean a record number of women are able to access screening in 2016-17.

The target participation rate of 70 per cent is not met by any jurisdiction in Australia.

The government is funding BreastScreen Victoria to work across Victoria, including in Yuroke, to recommend and encourage more screening. BreastScreen Victoria provides information and education to raise awareness of its important services to health professionals, and a range of community organisations including neighbourhood houses, recreation centres, aged care facilities and libraries. This ensures that women understand the importance of breast screening and are encouraged to take-up this free service.

Hon Jill Hennessy MP
Minister for Health