Our project was part of the national Own It! Cervical Screening (self-collection) campaign, funded by the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative; a national campaign aimed at highlighting the option of self-collection for cervical screening.

The goal of this community-led campaign was to increase awareness, understanding, and uptake of cervical screening (self-collection option) among eligible multicultural women and people with a cervix from the Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, and Punjabi speaking communities in Melbourne’s south east. Research has shown that the proportion of people who have never had a cervical screening test is higher among culturally and linguistically diverse audiences.

Using a train-the-trainer model, we recruited and trained four Community Health Champions from the identified communities to plan and deliver the campaign activities. Our objectives included:

understanding the challenges and barriers related to cervical screening,

engaging with the identified communities through tailored communication and engagement activities, and

co-designing targeted activities to increase awareness and uptake of cervical screening.

Key outputs

Recruited and trained four Community Health Champions from Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, and Punjabi speaking communities in City of Greater Dandenong & City of Casey.

Co-designed a community education presentation to raise awareness of cervical screening, including eligibility for the national screening program, and the self-collection option

Co-designed translated postcards (Available in 5 languages) with key messages about cervical screening (Postcards can be ordered here)

Produced 8 videos on cervical screening in community languages (5 languages)

Delivered 12 in-language community education sessions to 275 participants

Key outcomes

Total reach of activities - education sessions and event participation: 433 people

Video engagement to date (19/8/25): 809 views (Each YouTube & Enliven YT)

Partnered with the following for various activities: Monash Health South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU), Cancer Council Victoria delivered capacity building session for Community Champions, Multicultural Community Engagement Network, Springvale Neighbourhood House, North Dandenong Neighbourhood House, Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre, Women’s Empowerment & Leadership Community Inc., Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (Officer), Action on Disabilities in Ethnic Communities, Arabic Women’s Seniors Group Inc.