YARNING ABOUT HPV
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents in the school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. -
The project aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents in the school-based HPV vaccination program. To achieve this, we are employing an Indigenist research approach, using Indigenous methodologies and a socioecological model to investigate:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents’ attitudes, beliefs, decision-making and experiences relating to HPV vaccination
Caregivers’ (parents, guardians etc.) attitudes, beliefs, decision-making and experiences relating to HPV vaccination of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents
Other key stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences of factors that impact access to, and uptake of, HPV vaccination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents (this will include relevant individuals from school, community, health-service and vaccination program settings); and
The suitability and availability of current HPV vaccination promotional resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences.
Understanding the factors affecting HPV vaccination uptake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents is a critical component to reversing the current trajectory of cancer burden among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Together, this information provides the incentives and mechanisms to modify vaccination program delivery and improve coverage to better meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Associate Professor Julia Brotherton, Professor Gail Garvey, Professor Joan Cunningham , Dr Kate Anderson, Dr Tamara Butler, Associate Professor Allison Tong, Dr Jill Guthrie, Ms Aminata Morseu-Diop
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This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous scheme and is supported by the NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Targeted Approaches to Improve Cancer Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (TACTICS).
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Please contact Aminata Morseu-Diop – aminata.diop@anu.edu.au for more information.
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If you would like to stay informed about this project, we share newsletters with project updates/progress to our Consultation Network. If you would like to join our Consultation Network, please send an email to Aminata Morseu-Diop (aminata.diop@anu.edu.au) and you will be added to our contact list.
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Findings have been published with links below.
Screen Your Way
Screen Your Way works in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and primary care services with similar contexts. Through co‑design with participating services and communities, the study develops, implements, and evaluates locally tailored models of care that embed self‑collection into everyday practice. The aim is to increase cervical screening participation—particularly among people who experience barriers to screening—and contribute to achieving equity in Australia’s efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.The research team are working with seven services until late 2026 to put strategies in place.
Study results will be available in late 2027. -
Screen Your Way is an implementation study designed to improve access to cervical screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix. In July 2022, HPV self‑collection became available to all participants in Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program. While this important policy change increases choice, further evidence is needed to ensure self‑collection reaches those who are under‑ or never‑screened.
In this project, we are working in partnership with seven ACCHOs across QLD, NT and NSW to co-design strategies to increase the use of self- collection for HPV testing in their communities. Through co‑design with participating services and communities, the study develops, implements for 12 months, and evaluates locally tailored models of care that embed self‑collection into everyday practice.
Findings will be shared through workshops, reports, evidence briefs, and new resources to support evidence‑based scale‑up of HPV self‑collection in ACCHO settings.
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Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Associate Professor Julia Brotherton, Professor Gail Garvey, Professor Joan Cunningham, Dr Tamara Butler, Associate Professor Mark Wenitong, Professor Marion Saville, Dr Claire Nightingale, Associate Professor Megan Smith, Professor Rebecca Guy, Kristine Falzon, Ms Claudette Tyson, Ms Sonya Egert, Dr Jacki Mein, Professor Bev Lawton, Associate Professor Natalie Taylor, Dr Hamish McManus, Professor Karen Canfell
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This work is supported by a NHMRC-funded 3-year TCR grant.
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Please contact eliminatecxca@anu.edu.au for more information.
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We are still working with participating services to evaluate the implementation of HPV self‑collection. Study results are expected to be available from late 2027.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH WORKERS AND PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR ROLE IN CERVICAL SCREENING
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A cross-sectional survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals to understand the current roles and responsibilities the workforce already has along the cervical screening pathway and to gage the workforce’s aspiration in providing self-collection as a part of their role. This includes a validation study regarding how racism impacts the adoption of new innovations such as self-collection, for this Workforce.
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Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Ms Claire Zammit, Ms Aminata Morseu-Diop, Dr Tamara Butler, Desiree Leha, Mr Karl Briscoe, Ms Jodie Dennis, Professor Julia Brotherton
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This work is supported by a NHMRC-funded 3-year TCR grant. This project will be conducted within 12 – 18 months.
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Please contact Claire Zammit – claire.zammit@anu.edu.au for more information.
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This study has ceased recruitment and now in the dissemination phase.
This project is a partnership between the National Association of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers & Practitioners (NAATSIHWP); the community-community controlled peak body for this Workforce and the Cervical Cancer Elimination Team. The project aimed to explore the Workforces’ aspirations to support cervical screening within their roles.
Study results will be available thorough out 2026The Include study
Developing improved localised data on HPV vaccination and cervical screening coverage to help reduce cervical cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix. This project will link an existing linked data assets held by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), called the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA), with other datasets-
Despite higher rates of cervical cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, it is difficult to get up to date and localised data on HPV vaccination and cervical screening to support improvements in these programs.
This project will link an existing linked data assets held by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), called the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA). It will then build a new digital health tool which can be used to deliver local, coordinated and up to date data to improve clinical practices, educational resources, national policies, and outcomes for patients.
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Professor Claire Vajdic, Associate Professor Melissa Kang, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Professor Rebecca Guy, Professor Julia Brotherton, Professor Susan Skinner, Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths, Dr Dorothy Machalek, Associate Professor Megan Smith, Professor Deborah Bateson, Dr Sally Sweeney, Dr Hamish McManus, Professor Julian Trollor, Dr Cassandra Vujovich-Dunn, Dr Zoe Aitken, Ms Kate Wilkinson, Dr Louise Mitchell
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If you like the sound of this project and are interesting in being involved, there are opportunities to complete a Doctor of Philosopy within this study. Please contact Professor Claire Vajdic on vajdic@kirby.unsw.edu.au for more information.
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Please contact Professor Claire Vajdic — vajdic@kirby.unsw.edu.au for more information.
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This work is funded through a Medical Research Future Fund Primary Health Care Digital Innovations Grant held by Professor Claire Vajdic at The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales.
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Findings have been published with links below.
The Prevent Study
Trialling an innovative model of care to improve women’s participation in cervical screening and the assessment of cervical abnormalities in remote communities – through point-of-care testing, rapid test result delivery and same-day colposcopy (where indicated). -
In Australia, there are a significant number of eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, that have been unable to and/or have not participated in cervical screening that was offered through usual care (i.e., clinician collected specimen within healthcare services/clinics). If cervical cancer elimination is to be reached by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, then we need a new cervical screening model that is community driven and adaptable to geographical challenges that arise through unexpected environmental circumstances.
The PREVENT Project is uniquely placed to offer a new cervical screening option for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women who reside in rural and/or remote locations in Western Australia, by designing and delivering a new screening model that:
Is community driven and may facilitate women’s access and participation in cervical screening safely.
Provides a new cervical screening choice and opportunity for women that experience socio-economic and geographical challenges.
Places women’s autonomy and control over their cervical screening experience at the centre of its service model.
Can facilitate access to a same day specialist assessment (if required).
Consequently, this study aimed to deliver a new and innovative cervical screening model by engaging with local specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists (who provide medical outreach services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities), providing healthcare providers with training and education about new and portable cervical screening equipment, and offering the same day specialist assessment (if required). Importantly, we will also investigate the acceptability and preference of this cervical screening model by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women and their healthcare providers who live in one of the most remote locations in the world.
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Dr Aime Powell, Dr Jared Watts, Professor Jim Codde, Mrs Nerida Steel, Ms Kay Walley, Professor Yee Leung, Dr Lorraine Anderson, Dr Catherine Engelke, Dr Paul Cohen, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Dr Tamara Butler, Professor Julia Brotherton, Associate Professor Megan Smith, James Killen, Associate Professor David Hawkes, Professor Marion Saville
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The Commonwealth of Australia's Emerging Priorities Program, Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation & Mary Jane Foundation. This project is scheduled to be completed in October 2023.
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Please contact Aime Powell — Aime.Powell@nd.edu.au for more information.
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We showed the feasibility of integrating portable, same-day cervical screening and follow-up care into remote health-care settings, achieved through successful community engagement and advocacy. These findings offer valuable insights for policy makers and opportunities to increase women's participation in screening programmes, particularly in geographically remote areas.
Findings have been published with links below.
Pathways to Accelerate Cervical Cancer Elimination (PACE) project
Implementing HPV point of care testing to deliver quicker screening results and make for a more successful and acceptable screening program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix, particularly in rural and remote areas. -
For many people in remote communities, cervical screening specimens must be sent to far away laboratories, and there can be delays in returning screening results to clients and coordinating specialist follow up visits. This often means anxiety waiting for a test result, loss to follow up or avoidance of screening altogether, and delays in the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions and cancers.
Point-of-care testing allows for the specimen to be tested for HPV on-site within the clinic. A test result can be given to the screening participant within 60 minutes and offers a potential solution to improve the experience and effectiveness of cervical screening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix.
This study aims to implement point of care HPV testing as part of the National Cervical Screening Program and to understand if it can improve the clinical effectiveness, acceptability, and cost effectiveness of screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly those in regional and remote areas of Australia.
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Professor Rebecca Guy, Dr Adam Bartlett, Dr Alison Marshall, Professor Andrew Lloyd, Professor Andrew Vallely, Associate Professor Angela Kelly-Hanku, Dr Annapurna Nori, Ms Annie Tangey, Associate Professor Asha Bowen, Dr Behzad Hajarizadeh, Dr Belinda Hengel, Professor Carla Treloar, Dr Caroline Watts, Dr Chris Coulter, Dr Clare Bradley, Dr Daniel Judge, Associate Professor David Regan, Dr David Speers, Associate Professor David Whiley, Dr Dawn Casey, Professor Deborah Williamson, Professor Donna Mak, Dr Dylan Barth, Dr Evan Cunningham, Professor Gail Matthews, Scientia Professor Greg Dore, Professor Greg Fox, Associate Professor Handan Wand, Ms Jackie Thomas, Associate Professor James Wood, Dr Janessa Pickering, Professor Jason Grebely, J'Belle Foster, Dr Jeffrey Cannon, Scientia Professor John Kaldor, Dr Josh Hanson, Associate Professor Julia Brotherton, Dr Julia Vnuk, Professor Katherine Boydell, Dr Lisa Vallely, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Dr Lise Lafferty, Dr Louise Causer, Dr Manoji Gunathilake, Dr Marianne Martinello, Professor Marion Saville, Professor Mark Shephard, Dr Megan Smith, Mr Michael Lynch, Associate Professor Philip Cunningham, Dr Richard Gray, Associate Professor Rob Baird, Robert Monaghan, Dr Skye McGregor, Dr Sophy Shih, Dr Steve Badman, Associate Professor Susan Matthews, Dr Tanya Applegate, Professor Virginia Wiseman, Mr Wayne Dimech, Professor William Rawlinson
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This work is funded through a Medical Research Future Fund Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant held by Professor Rebecca Guy at The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales.
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Please contact study lead Lisa Whop — lisa.whop@anu.edu.au or research coordinator — ephillips@kirby.edu.au for more information.
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We are interested in hearing from services who would like to be involved in this project. For more information on how you can be part of this study or to express interest, please contact lisa.whop@anu.edu.au or ephillips@kirby.edu.au
CHOICE SURVEY
Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples awareness, preferences and experiences of HPV self-collection. -
The CHOICE Survey is a national electronic survey conducted to better understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s awareness, experiences, and preferences around HPV self‑collection for cervical screening.
The project was conducted in partnership with the Supporting Choice team at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne.The study was conducted in two waves:
Wave 1: Late 2023 – early 2024
Wave 2: Late 2025 – early 2026.
Recruitment for the CHOICE Survey is now closed. Analysis is underway, and findings will help inform culturally safe, community‑preferred approaches to cervical screening.
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This is a partnership between the Screen Your Way and Supporting Choice Investigator Teams.
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This research has been funded through two Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research competitive funding grants (LJW: GNT201490, CN: GNT201578).
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Please contact Louise Mitchell - louise.mitchell@anu.edu.au for more information.
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Analysis is currently underway.
Talking cervical cancer screening with queer mob
Talking Cervical Screening with Queer Mob is a PhD research project exploring how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB young people experience cervical screening in Australia.
Through culturally grounded yarning, the project aims to centre queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and identify ways to strengthen culturally safe, gender-affirming cervical screening pathways.
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Talking Cervical Screening with Queer Mob is a peer-led PhD research project examining cervical screening experiences among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB young people aged 18–30.
Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through vaccination and regular screening. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience inequitable access to culturally safe screening pathways. Very little research has explored how these experiences are shaped for young people who are also LGBTQIA+SB.
This project aims to address this gap by exploring participants’ knowledge and understandings of cervical screening, their interactions with health services, and the social, cultural and structural factors that influence screening decisions.
The research will involve qualitative yarning interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB young people who have a cervix or previously had a cervix.
The project will generate new evidence to inform culturally safe, gender-affirming and sexually inclusive cervical screening approaches, and support future research, policy and service improvements aimed at strengthening cervical cancer prevention for queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Ms Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse, Associate Professor Kate Anderson, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Dr Tamara Butler, Dr Alana Gall
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This PhD is supported by a First Nations Cancer Scholarship delivered by the Aurora Education Foundation and Cancer Australia, Lowitja Institute HDR Top-Up Scholarship and Australian Government Research Training Program stipend.
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Please contact PhD Candidate Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse – Khwanruethai.ngampromwongse@anu.edu.au for more information.
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Please contact PhD Candidate Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse – Khwanruethai.ngampromwongse@anu.edu.au for more information.
Our voices, our screening choices
Our Voices, Our Screening Choices is a research project working with older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and home care workers to strengthen culturally safe cervical screening support.
Delivered in partnership with Australian Unity’s Aboriginal Home Care program and guided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, the project will work with women aged 50 and over to identify barriers to screening and co-design practical solutions that reflect women’s values, preferences and cultural priorities.
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Our Voices, Our Screening Choices (OVOSC) is a research project focused on improving cervical screening access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 50 years and older who receive home care services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience higher rates of cervical cancer, yet many face significant barriers to screening, including shame, past negative experiences with health services, and limited access to culturally safe care. The OVOSC study aims to better understand these challenges and work alongside women and care workers to identify meaningful and practical ways to support screening participation.
The project is delivered in partnership with Australian Unity’s Aboriginal Home Care program across New South Wales, ensuring the research is connected to services that many women already trust and access. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group will guide the project to ensure the research reflects community priorities and cultural values.
The study will be conducted across four phases:
1) Understanding current knowledge and needs
2) Co-designing cervical screening support with women and staff
3) Implementing the co-designed support to improve screening access
4) Evaluating outcomes, including whether participation increases
Through this work, the project aims to generate practical resources, evidence and strategies that support culturally safe cervical screening pathways for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and contribute to national efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.
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Dr Tamara Butler, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Professor Gail Garvey, Dr Rakhee Raghunandan, Professor Kirsten Howard, Associate Professor Kate Anderson, Associate Professor Michelle Dickson, Professor Rowena Ivers, Jane Newman, Dr Eloise Warren
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This project is funded by the 2023 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Indigenous Health Research Grant, held by Dr Tamara Butler at the Australian National University, Canberra.
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Please contact Dr Tamara Butler – tamara.butler@anu.edu.au for more information
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Analysis is currently underway.
Improving access to colposcopy
This research aims to understand the experiences and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people referred to colposcopy, and how colposcopy is accessed.