Frequently asked questions

Here you will find answers to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) you may have about the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) or your participation in the screening programs.

On this page

If you are unable to find answers to your questions on this page, or would like further information, call 1800 627 701 to speak to a member of our Contact Centre team.

General FAQs about the National Cancer Screening Register

FAQs about the screening programs

FAQs for participants

This section contains FAQs that are relevant to members of the public around the NCSR. 

FAQs for healthcare providers

This section contains FAQs that are relevant to healthcare providers around the NCSR.

FAQs for pathologists or medical scientists

This section contains FAQs that are relevant to pathologists or medical scientists around the NCSR. 

Definitions

 

Contracted service provider

A contracted service provider is an entity or organisation that is engaged to perform the functions of the NCSR. The Contracted service provider is Telstra Health.

Department of Health and Aged Care (Health)

Means the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (Health), which has a diverse set of responsibilities and aims to deliver better healthcare services, including through the NCSR.

Services Australia (formerly Department of Human Services)

An Australian Government agency that delivers government payments and services.

Services Australia is responsible for the service delivery of Medicare and provides access to social, health and other payments. Services Australia operates the Healthcare Identifiers Service.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

The Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for carrying out government policy and implementing programs to fulfil Australia’s obligations to veterans, war widows and widowers, and serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force.

Healthcare provider

A healthcare provider means an individual healthcare provider or a healthcare provider organisation.

Healthcare provider organisation

A healthcare provider organisation is an entity, or a part of an entity, that has conducted, conducts, or will conduct, an enterprise that provides healthcare (including healthcare provided free of charge such as a hospital).

Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)

The Individual Healthcare Identifier is a 16-digit unique number used to identify individuals who receive or may receive healthcare in the Australian health system.

Register Reference Number (RRN)

A Register Reference Number (RRN) is the unique identifier assigned by the NCSR to the participant. It is used to authenticate an eligible screening participant.

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP)

An Australian Government bowel screening program that reduces illness and death from bowel cancer by detecting the early signs of the disease using a free, simple test that can be done at home.

National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP)

A joint cervical screening program of the Australian, State and Territory Governments that aims to prevent cervical cancer with regular testing.

National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP)

A new Australian Government initiative designed to detect lung cancer early in high-risk individuals without symptoms. Screening services delivered through the NLCSP will commence for eligible Australians aged 50 to 70 from July 2025.

For more information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)

A register supporting the Australian Government’s National Cervical Screening Program and National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

The NCSR sends invitations and reminders to eligible people to screen for bowel and cervical cancer. It notifies them and/or their healthcare provider if their bowel or cervical screening test result indicates the need further investigation or treatment.

Individual healthcare provider

An individual healthcare provider is an individual who has provided, provides, or is to provide, healthcare; or is registered by a registration authority as a member of a particular health profession (e.g., a doctor, specialist, pathology provider, registered nurse, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner).

Nominated healthcare provider

A nominated healthcare provider is an individual healthcare provider that an individual has requested be recorded to receive information about their bowel or cervical screening.

Personal Information

Has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Personal information includes health information and any information or opinion about an individual that relates to the identification of the individual or allows the individual to be identified. Examples of personal information are a person’s name, address, phone number, Medicare number, employment details, and medical test result.

Personal representative

A personal representative is someone (a parent, guardian, trustee, power of attorney or nominated person) that is authorised to access your personal information.

Pseudonym

A pseudonym is an alias or fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose (for example, to protect your privacy), held in the NCSR for bowel or cervical screening letters and other correspondence.

If a person requests to use a pseudonym, it will be used in place of their legal name for all letters, notifications and contact made through the NCSR for the bowel or cervical screening program.

For example, John Smith may choose to nominate the pseudonym, Jack Doe.

Preferred or alternate name

A name a person might use regularly, such as a nickname or shortened version of their legal name, that they may wish to appear on all screening program-related letters, notifications and contact made through the NCSR for the bowel and cervical screening program.


Was this page useful?

Help us improve ncsr.gov.au

Please note this form is for website feedback only:

Help us improve ncsr.gov.au

Please note this form is for website feedback only: