17 May 2010
Applications are now invited from health organisations and individual health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to promote breast cancer awareness through locally-run workshops for Indigenous women.
The funding, provided by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC), will assist recipients to host a Well Women Workshop for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in their local community, based on NBOCC’s Community education resource.
NBOCC’s workshop for well women promotes breast awareness and the importance of early detection in surviving breast cancer, providing information on breast changes and breast screening to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be proactive about breast health.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience poorer rates of breast cancer survival than the Australian female population as a whole.
“National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre is committed to reducing the impact of breast cancer on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women,” said Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO NBOCC. “Ensuring breast cancer is detected as early as possible in Aboriginal and Torres Strait women is key to achieving this objective.”
The Well Women Workshop Community education resource has been developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and Indigenous women diagnosed with breast cancer to ensure the information is delivered in a culturally-appropriate manner.
The resource includes advice for the workshop organiser, presenter notes, resources to organise and run the workshop, including NBOCC’s Looking after your breasts – what every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman should know DVD, and health promotion materials.
Applications for funding to run a Well Women Workshop in local communities are welcome from:
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and health services
• Health organisations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
• Individual health promotion officers, nurses, general practitioners, social workers or counsellors working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Applications close on Friday, 25 June 2010. For further information or to apply for funding, click here or contact Ms Janice Peterson (
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).
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre is funded by the Australian Government and works with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments to improve care and cancer control in breast and ovarian cancer.
Media Contact: Bree Stevens 0438 209 833
