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National Bowel Cancer Screening Program - information for the public

Bowel cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Australia and around 80 Australians die each week from the disease. Bowel cancer can be treated successfully if detected in its early stages, but currently less than 40 per cent of bowel cancers are detected early.

Why are only people turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age invited to take part?

From July 2011 the Australian Government will continue the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (the Program), by inviting around one million Australians each year who turn 50, 55 and 65 years of age between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2014 to participate in the Program.

The Program is being phased in gradually to help ensure that health services, such as colonoscopy and treatment services are able to meet any increased demand. This is consistent with the introduction of other screening programs, such as the National Cervical Screening Program, which was also phased in over a number of years.

What is the screening process?

People eligible to participate in the Program will receive an invitation through the mail to complete a simple test called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the privacy of their own home and mail it to a pathology laboratory for analysis. There is no cost involved in completing the FOBT. These screening tests have been shown in overseas clinical trials and in the Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Program to be simple to use and highly effective. Participants with a positive FOBT result will be advised to discuss the result with their doctor, who will generally refer them for further investigations, usually a colonoscopy.

Medicare Australia's Role

Medicare Australia administers the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register. The Register issues invitations to participate in the Program, records participants' details including screening history, FOBT and colonoscopy results as well as issuing reminder letters to participants and their nominated doctor/medical practice. Medicare Australia also operates the Information Line which provides information regarding the Program to the general public and medical practitioners during business hours, and the Participant Follow Up Function service to encourage participants with a positive FOBT result to complete the screening pathway.

To send invitations to participate in the Program, Medicare Australia selects invitees from either the Medicare enrolment records or the Department of Veterans' Affairs enrolment file as authorised by a service arrangement under subsection 7(2) of the Medicare Australia Act 1973.

Personal information and test results are kept private and confidential. Information kept on the Register is protected by law (the Privacy Act 1988) and personal details are released in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles of that Act.

Medicare Australia's role in the Program includes:

  • maintenance of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Register (the Register)
  • collection of information about participation in the Program and test results and
  • mailing house functions.

What does the Register do?

The Register plays an important role in the Program. To assist participants through the screening pathway, the Register will:

  • issue a pre-invitation letter followed by an invitation pack to people turning 50, 55 or 65 between January 2011 and December 2014
  • issue reminder letters to people who have not taken up an invitation to participate within a specified time
  • record participants' details, including screening history, FOBT results and results of colonoscopy which follow as a result of a positive FOBT
  • provide confirmation of contact details to the pathology laboratory responsible for analysing FOBT kits
  • issue reminder letters or make telephone calls (where necessary) to participants with a positive FOBT result to urge them to see their doctor for follow up tests, for the purpose of diagnosis
  • issue follow up reminder letters or telephone calls (where necessary) to participants' nominated doctors
  • provide information on participants’ screening and detection history to nominated doctors, Program Coordinators and employees in the bowel cancer screening area of state/territory governments to assist with participants' medical care and
  • check Medicare claims data (prior to issuing a reminder) to determine if a claim for a bowel procedure has been submitted. If a claim has been made the Register will record the procedure and write to the medical service provider seeking the results of the procedure.

What information is kept on the Register?

The Register keeps details such as name, contact details, age, gender, Medicare number, results of screening tests and the name of a nominated doctor. The results of any further tests undertaken, such as a colonoscopy or biopsy, are also recorded.

What will this information be used for?

Medicare Australia will use personal details to:

  • invite eligible people to screen
  • remind eligible people to complete their FOBT
  • provide contact details to the pathology laboratory responsible for analysing FOBTs
  • check Medicare and DVA claims for bowel examinations if required and contact medical service providers to request relevant reports be submitted to the Register and
  • send reminder letters and/or make telephone calls (where necessary) to participants and their nominated doctor.

The names and dates of birth of eligible people will be provided to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for the purpose of matching to cancer registry data to evidence that the Program is saving lives. Provision of data to AIHW is subject to the secrecy provisions of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987.

The disclosure of this information to AIHW and state/territory governments is authorised by a service arrangement under subsection 7(2) of the Medicare Australia Act 1973.

A person’s name, contact and screening details may also be provided to:

  • their nominated doctor
  • medical specialists whom they may be referred
  • Program Coordinators and
  • employees in the bowel cancer screening area of state/territory governments

to assist with their medical care in relation to bowel cancer screening.

De-identified information (that is, information that does not identify the person) on the Register will be provided to Commonwealth and state and territory government departments for statistical, research and policy development purposes, for example, to see how many cancers were detected. No one will be able to identify people from information reported by the Register for this purpose.

Who will have access to information on the Register?

Information held on the Register and information provided to the AIHW by the Register, is protected by law and will not be released to any other person or organisation without prior consent from participants or unless required or authorised by law.

The information provided to the AIHW will include name, date of birth and postcode. This information will enable the AIHW to match this information with state/territory cancer registers for the monitoring and evaluation of the Program.

Personal details provided to the AIHW will be destroyed when the match is made and information that is released from the AIHW will not contain any information that could identify an individual.

By completing and returning the Participant Details Form and/or the FOBT to the pathology laboratory, invitees are agreeing to become a participant in the Program and that:

  • they have read, or had explained to them, the Information Booklet, the Privacy Note on the Participant Details Form and the FOBT instructions
  • the FOBT samples they provided will be tested for the presence of blood and they understand that:
    • FOBTs are not always 100 per cent accurate and therefore test results cannot be guaranteed (studies indicate that FOBTs detect 70-80 per cent of cancers)
    • the result of the FOBT will be sent by mail to the address they have provided
    • if they have nominated a doctor/medical practice, the result of the FOBT and their contact details will be sent to that address and
    • if blood is found in the sample provided it is their responsibility to make an appointment with a doctor to discuss the results, the nature and risks of any further tests and to arrange for further tests following a full clinical assessment. It is not the responsibility of the Program or its employees, agents or anyone connected with this test procedure to do this for them.
  • their personal and clinical details will be collected and provided to the Register by:
    • the doctor/medical practice that they have nominated (if any)
    • hospitals to which they may be referred
    • doctors and medical specialists to whom they may be referred
    • pathologists who are requested to analyse samples taken from any follow up procedures
    • Program Coordinators and
    • employees in the bowel cancer screening area of state and territory governments and
  • their personal and clinical details will be used and disclosed for the purposes outlined in the Privacy Note on the Participant Details Form and that they consent to those uses and disclosures.

What information do doctors and medical specialists provide to the Register?

General practitioners and specialists will provide information to the Register (by completing data collection forms) about consultations/procedures with Program participants who received a positive FOBT result. Specifically, information will be provided on:

  • Assessment Form—Referred for colonoscopy/Not referred for colonoscopy following a positive FOBT result
  • Colonoscopy Report
  • Histopathology Report and
  • Procedure Report—Adverse Outcomes.

What if a person's details are incorrect or change?

If personal details (such as address, telephone number or nominated doctor/medical practice) change or are listed incorrectly during the course of the Program please call the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Information Line on 1800 118 868.

More information:

For more information about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program visit the Cancer ScreeningExternal link website.

For more information about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Register, call the:

National Bowel Cancer Screening Register Information Line on 1800 118 868 *
Or contact your doctor or health care provider

For enquiries regarding the correct procedures for completion of FOBT kits call:

Dorevitch Pathology FOBT helpline on 1300 738 365*

* call charges apply from mobiles or pay phones only

Useful links

A list of links to Cancer Councils and other organisations.

For more information about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program visit the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing website or the website of a Cancer Council in your state.

State and territory Cancer Councils

Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20

Your state or territory cancer council provides a confidential service where you can talk about your concerns or questions about cancer with specially trained staff. The staff can send you written information and put you in touch with services in your local area.

Translating and Interpreting Service 13 14 50

Last updated: 5 July, 2011