Residents in Greater Geelong will soon have better access to BreastScreen Victoria services including vital preventative breast scans and specialist treatment.
The state government announced on Monday, June 13, that five new services had been allocated for the state, and three temporary sites in Hoppers Lane, Craigieburn and Pakenham will be converted to permanent sites with greater capacity.
The Local Government Areas of Whittlesea, Casey, Greater Geelong/Surf Coast Shire, Melton and Moreland will receive new screening services to be completed by January 2025.
The services are part of a $20 million grant, announced in the 2022/23 state budget, to deliver breast screening services to an additional 36,000 eligible Victorians every year by 2026.
Funding will also be allocated for the expansion of BreastScreen Victoria’s Reading and Assessment services in Parkville and Monash.
It will also support strategies designed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women accessing services.
Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman said the announcement was a positive one for Greater Geelong residents.
“Thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, more Victorians in South Barwon are surviving breast cancer,” he said.
“We’re making it even easier to get screened with a permanent service in Geelong and the Surf Coast.”
Womens minister Gabrielle Williams said getting tested was “quick, easy and more accessible than ever”.
“We’re delivering breast screening services to thousands more Victorians every year and I urge all Victorians not to wait. Book your free breast screen today,” Ms Williams said.
BreastScreen Victoria provides free two-yearly breast screening for eligible Victorians without symptoms. If you are due to be screened, book an appointment at a service by calling 13 20 50 or visiting.
Details: www.breastcreen.org.au.
