The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) aims to achieve better health outcomes for Australians by detecting lung cancer early and reducing deaths from lung cancer. Early detection can lead to more effective treatment options and improved outcomes for patients.
Healthcare providers will play an important role in the delivery and success of the NLCSP which will launch in July 2025.
Draft NLCSP Guidelines now available
The draft National Lung Cancer Screening Program Guidelines (guidelines) are now available for public consultation. The guidelines will assist healthcare providers to navigate themselves and participants through each step of the program’s screening and assessment pathway. The guidelines also provide advice on promoting cultural safety, equity and the reduction of stigmatising behaviour, and the provision of smoking cessation advice.
The guidelines have been developed in consultation with experts, clinicians, researchers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and consumers.
From July 2025, high-risk people aged between 50 and 70 years with a history of cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years (smoking 15 cigarettes per day for 40 years) will be able to get a free low-dose CT scan using fixed and mobile screening infrastructure every two years unless a screen detected abnormality is found which may require an interval scan or other follow-up.
The program aims to reduce illness and deaths from lung cancer by encouraging people at high-risk to participate in targeted routine lung cancer screening.
Have your say
Feedback is welcome from all individuals and organisations. Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Consultation Hub to view the draft Program Guidelines and complete the online survey.
The consultation will close on 5 January 2025.
For further information on the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, visit health.gov.au/nlcsp.
