The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), launched in August 2006, has detected 17,378 bowel cancers in Australians as of June 2026, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The program offers free fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) to eligible Australians aged 50 to 74 every two years.
Participation rates have gradually improved, reaching 44% in 2024, up from 38% in 2020. However, this remains below the national target of 60%. The program has been credited with reducing bowel cancer mortality by an estimated 15% among participants.
As the 20th anniversary approaches, health officials emphasize the importance of early detection. Bowel cancer is Australia's second deadliest cancer, but when caught early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90%.
