1.Introduction

It is estimated that 90% of cases of cervical cancer can be prevented by two yearly screening of women aged 18 - 70 years in Australia. However, until 1991, only 50% of potential cases were being prevented (Jelfs 1995). In 1991, the Commonwealth Government in conjunction with the State and Territory Governments established an Organised Approach to the Prevention of Cancer of the Cervix (OAPCC). The organised approach aims to reduce avoidable deaths from cervical cancer by:

• encouraging women at risk to have a Pap smear every two years;
• improving the reliability and accessibility of services for taking and testing Pap smears;
• optimising management of women with screen detected abnormalities; and,
• improving monitoring and evaluation.

The 1994 evaluation of the OAPCC found that there had been an increase in women’s total participation in screening, accompanied by a reduction in the total number of Pap smears performed due to conformance with biennial screening. However, the greatest increase in screening occurred in the under 35 age group where the risk was lower. Consequently, the evaluation recommended that Phase 2 of the Program should more effectively target older women, rural women and "hard to reach" groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The purpose of this document is to inform all stakeholders of the strategic directions and priorities of the NSW Cervical Screening Program covering the period 1996/97 to 1998/1999. It will also be used to :

• communicate Program expectations to all stakeholders;
• monitor performance over time; and,
• ensure accountability for the use of Program funds.