Cancer Council SA to host CALD focus groups on cancer screening

Cancer Council SA will be heading to the Limestone Coast this month to run focus groups, targeted to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community members, to help break down barriers to cancer screening.

The focus groups, run by Cancer Council SA and funded by Country SA PHN (Primary Health Network), are part of a pilot program in the Limestone Coast region which aims to increase cancer screening participation amongst CALD communities.

Research suggests that cancer screening rates amongst individuals from CALD backgrounds are low, which Cancer Council SA Prevention and Advocacy Manager Christine Morris said could be due to personal and cultural barriers, and lack of understanding about cancer screening.

“Through these focus groups, we want to hear directly from the CALD community about what barriers they face to cancer screening, and how we can help to overcome them.”

“We know that bowel and cervical cancer screening rates in the Limestone Coast fall behind the state average,” she said.

“Participation in regular cancer screening gives you the best chance of detecting cancer early and ultimately, saving your life, which is why it’s so important that all eligible South Australians get screened.”

The sessions, which will run in Mount Gambier from the 12 – 14 September and Naracoorte from the 19 – 21 September will give an overview of the three national cancer screening programs and then invite the community to share the barriers they face to participating.

Community members from CALD backgrounds are encouraged to attend, along with health professionals and service providers who work with them.

Register your attendance using the links below:

• Mount Gambier: Mount Gambier Focus Groups Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
• Naracoorte: Naracoorte Focus groups Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

If you are unable to attend, but still want to share your insights and experience, you can contact Cancer Council SA direct by emailing prevention@cancersa.org.au

Focus Group Details:

Mount Gambier

• Location: Mount Gambier Public Library, 6 Watson Terrace, Mount Gambier
  Time and date:
• Health professional session: Tuesday 13 September, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
• Service provider session: Tuesday 13 September, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
• Community member session: Tuesday 13 September, already at capacity

Naracoorte

• Location: Naracoorte Public Library, 93 Smith Street, Naracoorte.
  Time and date:
• Health professional session: Monday 19 September, 1:00 pm – 3:30pm
• Service provider sessions: Monday 19 September, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
• Community member session: Tuesday 20 September, 10:00 am – 11:30 am