About

The BreastScreen Initiative (TBSI)

Breast cancer is still one of the most common cancers affecting women in Australia, but the good news is that it’s also one of the most treatable… if it’s caught early. That’s where we (the Breast Screen Initiative) comes in. Spearheaded by the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN), this program is pushing to get more than 90% of eligible women across the country into regular breast screening – because every woman, no matter where she lives or how much she earns, should have access to these potentially life-saving checks.

Why catching it early makes all the difference

The chances of surviving breast cancer are closely tied to how soon it’s found. For women diagnosed at Stage 1, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. That drops to about 95% at Stage 2, 81% at Stage 3, and less than 32% at Stage 4. These numbers aren’t just statistics, they show that early detection saves lives. It also makes treatment less gruelling and recovery more likely to be complete.

The problem: Screening rates have dropped too low

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in BreastScreen Australia has taken a serious hit. Right now, only about half of eligible women are getting their regular mammograms, down from pre-pandemic levels. In real terms, that means close to 1.8 million women are missing out on screening. Some (12–15%) are already undergoing treatment and can’t use the state-run service, but that still leaves around 30% who simply aren’t engaged with screening at all.

GPs can be the solution

The core tenant of the breast screen initiative is that general practitioners are in a great position to turn these numbers around – if they are supported.

GPs could refer about 270,000 women who aren’t being screened—roughly 15% of the eligible group—to private radiology services, at a cost of about $90 per screen (around $24.3 million total per screening cycle). Another 15% could be referred directly to state-based BreastScreen services through a clear pathway.

What needs to change?

To really move the needle, TBSI is calling for:

• Awareness of the impact of Breast Density educate women on the risks if they have dense breasts and encourage them to have conversations with their doctors
• Targeted GP education: Give GPs the training and resources they need to have confident, informed conversations about breast health.
• New Medicare rebates: Create a dedicated Medicare item for GPs to discuss breast screening, and another for bulk-billed private mammogram referrals.
• Direct referral access: Make it easy for GPs to refer women straight to BreastScreen services.
• A national register: Set up a unified system to keep track of who’s due for screening, who’s overdue, and who needs a follow-up, so no one slips through the cracks.

A win for women’s health: Breast density reporting

Thanks to advocacy by TBSI, AGPN and other health organisations, breast density is now being included in screening reports. This is a big step forward, since dense breast tissue can both hide cancer and increase risk. Making sure women know their density status helps them and their doctors understand risk and make better decisions about their care.

A cost-neutral opportunity

With cervical screening moving to a five-year cycle, introducing a dedicated women’s health Medicare item for breast screening could actually be cost-neutral for the government, while making it much easier for GPs to start these important conversations.