Consumer Network Member Anne Hodgson, pictured in front of one of our Mobile Screening Service (MSS) vans.
On Monday 13 June, Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Martin Foley announced the locations of an additional eight permanent BreastScreen Victoria clinics across the state.
The new services are part of a $20 million funding boost to the program in the Victorian Budget 2022/23. They will help to deliver breast screening services to 36,000 additional eligible Victorians every year by 2026.
The premier made the announcement at Maroondah BreastScreen alongside BreastScreen Victoria’s Luke Neill, Interim CEO, Elisabet Wremer, Board of Management Chair, Dr Helen Frazer, State Clinical Director and Clinical Director of St Vincent’s BreastScreen and Anne Hodgson, Consumer Network Member.
Anne was called back to Maroondah BreastScreen after a routine breast screen. Further testing revealed that Anne had breast cancer, but thanks to early detection, it was treatable.
Five new permanent breast screening services will be established over the next three years in the Local Government Areas of Whittlesea, Casey, Greater Geelong/Surf Coast Shire, Melton and Moreland. Additionally, three temporary sites in Craigieburn (Hume), Pakenham (Cardinia) and Hoppers Lane – Werribee (Wyndham) will be converted into permanent sites with greater capacity.
The funding will also support the expansion of BreastScreen Victoria’s Reading and Assessment services (RAS) in Parkville and Monash, as well as support strategies designed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women accessing breast screening.
“Thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, more Victorians are surviving breast cancer. We’re making it even easier to get screened with eight additional breast screening services across the state,” said Mr. Andrews.
Anne agreed, emphasising how crucial breast screening can be.
“I know first-hand about the importance of routine screening; it saved my life,” she said.
If you’re due for a breast screen, find your nearest clinic at www.breastscreen.org.au/locations