BCHS Annual Report 2025 - Report - Page 21
Adult Migrant English Program Cancer
Screening Awareness Pilot
Bendigo Community Health Services worked to
improve understanding of cancer and Australia’s
cancer screening programs among newly arrived
migrants and refugees.
In partnership with Melbourne Polytechnic, BCHS integrated
cancer screening education into Adult Migrant English
Program (AMEP) classrooms across Bendigo TAFE, Chisholm
Institute Dandenong, and Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre for
130 English language learners.
The program delivered 昀椀ve tailored modules - What
is Cancer, Breast Cancer Screening, Bowel Cancer
Screening, Cervical Screening, and A Healthy
Lifestyle - within regular English lessons.
Culturally safe, accessible materials were designed
to challenge myths and misconceptions, build
familiarity with evidence-based information, and
encourage conversations with health providers.
Lessons were supported by workbooks, teacher
guides, interpreters, PowerPoints, and culturally
relevant props including cervical and bowel screening
kits, toilet seats, and even “squishy poo” characters to
make learning engaging. Content was reviewed and
endorsed by Australia’s cancer peak bodies to ensure
accuracy.
“From a cultural perspective, it can be a challenge for
the students to talk about cancer,” said Lisa from the
Refugee and Cultural Diversity Team.
“But students have welcomed the knowledge with a
willingness to learn. The hope is that this will bring cancer
screening to a lot more people. For example, if people
receive a bowel screening kit in the mail, they’ll recognise
its importance instead of throwing it away.”
This project was funded by the Victorian Department
of Health.
21
