Standard
The RACGP Red Book
Australian prevention is guided by the Red Book, the national preventive activities guideline. It sets which checks are recommended, at what ages, and for whom, based on the best evidence.
01
Topic Focus · Preventative Medicine
Preventative Medicine · Finding problems before symptoms
Prevention, explained.
Preventative medicine catches disease before symptoms appear, when treatment works best. This guide explains the screening programs available in Australia, the health checks your GP performs, the role of family history and genetic testing, and how prevention changes the course of the whole patient journey.
National
Free screening for bowel, breast and cervical cancer
Standard
RACGP Red Book of prevention
Personal
Family history shapes your screening plan
3programs
national cancer screening programs run free in Australia45years
bowel screening starts for most Australians at 4550years
breast screening every 2 years from age 50, free from 40 on request1habit
regular checks catch problems while they are still smallWhy this guide exists
The best time to find a disease is before it announces itself.
Tricorian Life
02
The Basics
The national screening programs
Three programs, free for eligible Australians.
Australia runs national screening programs for the cancers where early detection most changes survival. They find disease in people with no symptoms, when it is most treatable.
Bowel cancer screening
A free home test kit posted every 2 years to Australians aged 45 to 74. The kit checks a stool sample for hidden blood, an early sign of polyps and cancer. Simple, private, and proven to save lives.
Breast screening
Free mammograms every 2 years for women aged 50 to 74, with screening available from 40 on request. BreastScreen Australia clinics operate nationwide, including mobile services for regional areas.
Cervical screening
The Cervical Screening Test replaced the Pap smear and now looks for HPVHuman papillomavirus (HPV)A common virus that causes most cervical cancers. The cervical screening test checks for cancer-causing HPV types directly., the virus that causes most cervical cancers. Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 screen every 5 years.
Beyond the three programs
Prevention extends to newborn screening, hearing checks in children, cardiovascular risk assessment, and vaccination, which is prevention in its purest form.
Family history changes your plan
A strong family history of cancer or heart disease can mean screening earlier, more often, or with different tests. Tell your GP what runs in your family, and when you learn something new about a relative, update them.
Genetic testing refines prevention
Where family history suggests an inherited risk, genetic testing can identify specific changes, like hereditary BRCA or Lynch syndrome variants. A positive result sharpens the screening plan, and genetic counselling guides the decision before and after testing.
03
Your Journey
Prevention across a lifetime
Screening follows you through life.
Prevention is not one test, it is a schedule that changes with your age and risk. Here is how the checks unfold.
01
Childhood
Newborn screening, growth checks, hearing and vision, and the childhood vaccination schedule build the foundation.
02
Young adulthood
Cervical screening starts at 25, skin checks become routine in Australia's sun, and mental health checks enter the picture.
03
Middle age
Bowel screening begins at 45. Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose are checked regularly, catching heart disease and diabetes early.
04
Later life
Breast screening, bone health, and hearing and vision checks step up. Falls risk and medication reviews become part of the annual conversation.
05
Any age
A change in family history, a new diagnosis in a relative, or a concerning symptom resets the plan. Prevention is a living schedule, not a fixed one.
04
Who You Will Meet
The prevention team
Your GP, at the centre.
General practice is the home of prevention in Australia. Around the GP sit the services that make the system work.
Your GP and practice nurse
They run the screening and risk assessment schedule, order the right pathology at the right age, and coordinate everything that follows an abnormal result.
Genetic counsellors
When family history raises a question of inherited risk, genetic counsellors explain what testing can and cannot tell you, so you decide with eyes open.
Screening services
BreastScreen clinics, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, and pathology providers run the population-wide programs, sending results to you and your GP.
Specialists when needed
An abnormal screening result routes to hospital clinics and specialists for diagnostic follow-up, the step that turns early detection into early treatment.
05
Beyond the Basics
The science of prevention
How doctors decide what to check and when.
Screening is evidence, not guesswork. Understanding the reasoning helps you see why some tests are offered and others are not.
Judgement
Why not test everything?
Screening has a cost: false alarms, overdiagnosis, and procedures for findings that would never have harmed you. Programs are offered only when early detection clearly outweighs those harms.
Personal
Risk is individual
Your age, family history, genetic profile, lifestyle and medical history all shift the calculus. That is why prevention is a conversation with your GP, not a pamphlet.
06
Sources
Where this guide draws from.
- 1The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice (Red Book). racgp.org.au
- 2Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. health.gov.au
- 3BreastScreen Australia. breastscreen.org.au
- 4Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. National Cervical Screening Program. health.gov.au
- 5Cancer Council Australia. Prevention and screening information. cancer.org.au
07
Common Questions
Frequently asked
What patients ask about prevention.
Are the national screening programs really free?
Yes. Bowel, breast and cervical screening are free for eligible Australians, including through Medicare. Your GP may charge a consultation fee for related appointments, but the screening tests themselves carry no cost.
When should screening start for me?
The standard starting points are cervical screening at 25, bowel screening at 45, and breast screening at 50, or 40 if you choose. A strong family history or an inherited risk can move those dates earlier, which is why your GP asks about your family.
What if a screening test comes back abnormal?
An abnormal screening result is not a diagnosis. It triggers further tests, like a biopsy or a diagnostic scan, and most follow-up investigations turn out to be clear. The system is designed to move you through that step quickly.
How does family history change my screening?
Close relatives diagnosed with cancer at a young age, or several relatives with related cancers, can mean screening earlier or more often. Your GP may suggest genetic testing to clarify the risk, with counselling to guide the decision.
What checks should I have every year?
Blood pressure at least every 2 years, and more often if raised. Skin checks are wise annually in Australia. Your GP will schedule blood tests for cholesterol and glucose at intervals matching your risk, and will discuss vaccinations at the same visit.
Does genetic testing tell me everything?
No. Genetic testing answers specific questions about specific genes, usually when family history points to them. Most disease risk comes from a mix of genes, environment and lifestyle, which is why testing works alongside screening, not instead of it. Our Genetics guide explains what results can and cannot tell you.
What is the best single thing I can do?
Attend the screening you are eligible for, keep your vaccinations current, and tell your GP honestly about symptoms, family history and lifestyle. These three habits together outweigh almost any single intervention.
Questions answered
Questions about prevention?
If you need guidance on screening eligibility, understanding a family history risk, or what to ask your GP at your next check, reach out and our team will help. We respond within 24 hours.
Talk to our team or email [email protected]