Heart of Australia has partnered with the Australian Government to co-deliver the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program (program) by providing mobile lung cancer screening services to rural and remote communities nationwide.

The program will roll out from July 2025 and will enable earlier detection of lung cancer in Australia, helping to save more than 500 lives each year.

For Australians living in regional, rural, and remote communities, there are higher levels of disease, and poorer access to health services. In the case of lung cancer, we know that:

• For those living in remote areas, the lung cancer incidence rate is almost 51 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 42 cases per 100,000 in major cities.
• Lung cancer mortality rates increase the further you live from a major city
• Lung cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer amongst First Nations people

Heart of Australia will build five new mobile clinics – each fitted with a mobile CT scanner and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment – to provide lung cancer screening services to approximately 50 rural and remote communities each year across every state in Australia as well as the Northern Territory. We will be working closely with state governments and local health services to support community screening participation. Heart of Australia will also be advertising mobile lung cancer screening routes on our website, including ways to book an appointment for a screening CT.

To find out more about the program, please visit the official website. Information is provided on:

• Benefits of undergoing regular lung cancer screening.
• Eligibility criteria for the program.
• Details about how lung cancer screening will work with specific information for participants, First Nations people and healthcare providers.

Visit: www.health.gov.au/nlcsp

Over the next twelve months, Heart of Australia will engage with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, state and territory Health Departments, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and its state and territory Affiliates, local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and communities (including health services) to co-design and plan the mobile clinic routes. 

A list of communities will be published once routes are confirmed.

This project is funded by the Australian Government National Lung Cancer Screening Program.