The Western Sydney Wanderers are teaming up with the Australian Government to save lives in their local community.
Bowel cancer screening rates are dramatically lower in Western Sydney compared to the national average of 44%. Screening rates in the West are as low as 29.5% putting people in Western Sydney at risk of late bowel cancer diagnosis.
If caught early, more than 90% of bowel cancers can be treated successfully.
The Government is partnering with the Western Sydney Wanderers to connect with fans and urge them – or their family members – to do their free bowel cancer screening when it arrives. Australians aged 50-74 receive a free kit in the mail every two years.
Fans attending games will see signage in stadium promoting bowel cancer screening and the club’s players, coaches and staff are going online to urge people to ‘Do the Test’ in multiple languages.
The Club will also host local leaders in 2023 from a broad cross section of the Western Sydney community, including representatives from Mosques, churches and migrant groups, to promote bowel screening and normalise doing the test within their communities.
The Western Sydney Wanderers are proud representatives of one of Australia’s most culturally diverse communities. Around 2.2 million people from more than 180 different cultures call the area home.
Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP said the Australian Government was partnering with the Wanderers to promote this important public health program to their extensive fan base.
“The Western Sydney Wanderers are great champions for their community and for our National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
“Their support helps get the message out that bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Australia, but early detection, even before symptoms start, will save lives.”
Western Sydney Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson said that the club was proud to support the Australian Government initiative.
“Community is central to everything that we do as a club and we are very proud to be partnering with the Australian Government to help increase the number of eligible Western Sydney residents completing their free bowel screening kit.
“Western Sydney is a diverse and multicultural region and it is important we as a club have an impact on our local community that goes beyond football.
“We encourage all our members and fans that are eligible to ‘Do the Test’, it’s a free and simple process that could save their lives.”
For more information on the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program or to re-order a test visit How bowel screening works | Australian Government Department of Health.
