Australia's newest national screening program started in July 2025.
Eligibility:
- Age 50-70.
- No symptoms of lung cancer.
- Currently smokes, or quit within the past 10 years.
- A smoking history of at least 30 pack-years.
How it works:
- A GP or other eligible practitioner assesses eligibility and requests a low-dose CT scan.
- Scans are usually every 2 years, with shorter intervals if a nodule needs monitoring.
- Results are managed through the National Cancer Screening Register.
The program is also a chance to offer smoking cessation support, which is the most effective way to reduce lung cancer.
It was designed with a focus on equity, including access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and rural communities (for example through mobile CT). As with all screening, symptomatic patients need diagnostic imaging instead.