AUSTRALIA IS WITHIN REACH
OF ELIMINATING^ CERVICAL
CANCER
^WHO goal: the agreed elimination threshold is less than four cases per 100,000 women in all countries worldwide within the next century.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set three targets that all countries worldwide should achieve by 2030 and improve on after that. The goal is to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035.1
Australia has been making strong progress towards these targets – and more. We may actually be the first country in the world to achieve the goal of eliminating^ cervical cancer through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, cervical screening and treatment.1
* The WHO 2030 targets have been developed for a global context, particularly for Low- and Middle-Income countries and therefore focus only on cis-gender girls and women. We respectfully acknowledge that these targets may not be inclusive of all people with a cervix as they are currently written.1
† In 2020, Australia reported that 80.5% of girls were fully vaccinated by age 15; 67.3% or women aged 45 to 49 years participated in cervical screening in 2018 to 2021 (and participation was 62% of women aged 25 to 74 years); 85.8% of those with pre-cancer identified in 2020 received treatment within six months; and Queensland data showed over 90% treatment rates for cervical cancer (no national data available).1
1. Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. National Strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer in Australia November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/national-strategy-for-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer-in-australia.pdf. Accessed March 2024.
† In 2020, Australia reported that 80.5% of girls were fully vaccinated by age 15; 67.3% or women aged 45 to 49 years participated in cervical screening in 2018 to 2021 (and participation was 62% of women aged 25 to 74 years); 85.8% of those with pre-cancer identified in 2020 received treatment within six months; and Queensland data showed over 90% treatment rates for cervical cancer (no national data available).1
1. Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. National Strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer in Australia November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/national-strategy-for-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer-in-australia.pdf. Accessed March 2024.
WHO PILLARS OF ELIMINATION1*
HPV VACCINATION
90%
of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age1
80.5%†
Australia’s progress at 20201
Australia’s target for 2030
Extending the 90% target to include BOYS as well as GIRLS1
CERVICAL SCREENING
70%
women to be screened by 35 and again by 45 years of age using a high precision test1
62-67.3%†
Australia’s progress at 20201
Australia’s target for 2030
Extending the 70% screening target to screening every FIVE YEARS for eligible 25- to 74-year olds (vs. twice in a lifetime)1
TREATMENT
90%
of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment for pre-cancerous lesions or management of invasive cancer1
85.8-90%†
Australia’s progress at 20201
Australia’s target for 2030
Lifting the target to 95%1
