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aboriginal programs
Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to cut their cancer risk
Cancer Council SA remains committed to making meaningful impact in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through a strengths-based approach—empowering, educating and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to make positive changes to their health and ultimately, reduce their cancer risk.
Quitskills
An evidence-based, nationally-recognised program, Quitskills equips Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers with the confidence to effectively and appropriately support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their quitting journey.
Research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are three times more likely to smoke compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Combining a variety of backgrounds, both personally and professionally, the Quitskills team is passionate about presenting a program that makes a real impact in urban, regional and remote communities.
Promoting Cancer Screening
Through funding from Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN), Cancer Council SA developed a series of cancer screening videos featuring Aboriginal Ambassadors and health experts to promote the importance of cancer screening participation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“When I was approached to be a Cancer Council SA Ambassador, I jumped at the opportunity. I think it’s very important, not only for community, but for your immediate family, to understand just how important screening is. Almost 10 years ago, I lost my brother to bowel cancer. He didn’t know about the symptoms and had never done a bowel cancer test so just thought he had a hernia. If he had known more, the outcome might have been different.
Then, three years ago, I lost my twin sister to bowel cancer. To lose two people to bowel cancer, especially when there is a such a reliable screening test, is really hard. I can’t stress enough how important it is to do the test as bowel cancer can develop without any symptoms at all. I don’t want anyone to go through what our family’s been through, which is why promoting cancer screening is so important to me.” – Aunty Janice Rigney | Cancer Council SA Aboriginal Ambassador.