About Us

VALUE STATEMENT

Care, Respect, Innovation, Teamwork and Integrity 

BreastScreen WA acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians throughout Western Australia of the lands on which we work and pay respect to their elders both past and present.

VISION

Reduce illness and death from breast cancer through early detection of abnormalities, women aged 50 to 74 years of age are invited to have a free screening mammogram every 2 years.

MISSION

The objectives of the BreastScreen Australia program are to:

  1. Reduce the mortality and morbidity attributable to breast cancer;
  2. Maximise early detection of breast cancer in the target population;
  3. Maximise the proportion of women in the target population who are screened every two years;
  4. Provide high quality services that are equitable, acceptable and appropriate to the needs of the population and equally accessible to all women in the target age group;
  5. Provide screening services in accredited Screening and Assessment Services as part of the BreastScreen Australia program;
  6. Provide high standards of program management, service delivery, monitoring, evaluation and accountability.

 

NATIONAL PROGRAM FEATURES

BreastScreen WA is a Commonwealth-State jointly funded program.  As part of the National BreastScreen Australia Program, services are delivered in accordance with the following national program features.

Access and Participation

Appropriate levels of access and participation in the target and eligible populations:

  • women are eligible and invited for screening based on age alone. That is, women aged 40 years and above are eligible to participate and recruitment strategies are targeted at women aged 50−74 years;
  • the screening interval is every two years;
  • screening is provided at minimal or no cost to the women, and free of charge to eligible women who would not attend if there were a charge; and
  • patterns of participation should be representative of the socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural profiles of the target population.

 

Cancer Detection

Breast cancer detection is maximised, and harm is minimised:

  • screening employs mammography as the primary screening method;
  • all women are screened with two view mammography. Reasons for any variation from this policy are documented;
  • all mammograms are taken by a mammography practitioner or radiographer appropriately trained in screening mammography;
  • all mammographic images are read and reported independently, in a blind relationship, by two or more readers, at least one of whom shall be a radiologist; and
  • all mammography results are combined into a single recommendation, which indicates whether further assessment for the presence of breast cancer is required.

Assessment

Assessment and diagnosis of breast cancer is appropriate, safe and effective:

  • a comprehensive approach is employed in the assessment of breast abnormalities;
  • a multidisciplinary team is involved in the assessment of women recalled from screening;
  • the pre-operative diagnosis of breast cancer is maximised, and recommendations for surgery for benign lesions are minimised;
  • the outcomes for all women recommended for surgery are collected, reviewed and utilised in continuing professional education for members of the multidisciplinary team; and
  • women’s general practitioners are kept informed of the results of screening and assessment, unless a woman requests otherwise.

Timeliness

Screening and assessment services are provided to women in a timely and efficient manner:

  • women have timely access to screening;
  • the time from screening to assessment is minimised; and
  • the results of screening and assessment are provided promptly and directly to the woman concerned in ways that are sensitive to her possible anxiety.

Data Management and Information Systems

Effective data and information management systems:

  • data are collected, stored and managed using secure, quality, contemporary data management and communication systems that comply with relevant state and national standards, and that enable valid, reliable system and service performance analysis and evaluation;
  • data are used for strategic purposes, quality improvement of services and for clinical and service management;
  • data are collected in line with the requirements of the BreastScreen Australia Data Dictionary; and
  • data are to be submitted annually to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, for use in a national program monitoring report, and annual performance data reports for review by the National Quality Management Committee.

Client Focus

Services are of high quality and client focused:

  • high quality information is provided to inform women, and women feel appropriately engaged and supported;
  • screening services are provided in a manner which is acceptable to women in accessible, non-threatening and comfortable environments;
  • women and health care providers are given comprehensive and easily understood information about the Program, from screening up to and including diagnosis of breast cancer;
  • counselling and information are an integral part of the Program;
  • women are advised of the benefits and risks of mammography; and
  • women are provided with written information and actively involved in decisions about their management, particularly in relation to further assessment and treatment.

Governance and Management

Effective structures and processes are in place to ensure high quality governance and management:

  • Screening and assessment are carried out at BreastScreen Australia accredited services; and
  • Key stakeholders and stakeholder groups participate in the monitoring and management of the Program.

Use our contact form or call BreastScreen WA on:

13 20 50 for appointments

9323 6700 for information

Last Updated: 22/09/2023