Cancer is Australia's leading cause of death — approximately 160,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and approximately 50,000 die from it. Yet cancer is significantly preventable: tobacco, sun exposure, obesity, alcohol, physical inactivity, and unscreened infections account for a substantial portion of cancer cases. Grant funding supports cancer prevention campaigns, screening programmes, vaccination, healthy lifestyle promotion, and the public health advocacy that changes the environments that increase cancer risk.
The preventable burden
Common preventable cancers
Screening programmes
Australia has national screening programmes:
- BreastScreen Australia (2-yearly mammogram, 50-74)
- Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (faecal occult blood test, 50-74)
- Cervical Screening Test (HPV test, 25-74)
Participation rates vary — particularly lower for Indigenous, rural, and CALD Australians.
Cancer Australia
National agency for cancer control — research, policy, information.
NHMRC
Research grants including cancer prevention.
Department of Health
State health departments
Cancer Councils Australia (and state Cancer Councils)
Major cancer prevention funders:
- SunSmart programme
- Tobacco control advocacy
- Cancer screening promotion
- Healthy lifestyle programmes
- Research funding
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Cancer treatment and research.
Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation
Prevention and early detection research.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
Research and awareness — early detection.
Bowel Cancer Australia
Screening promotion and advocacy.
Melanoma Institute Australia
Melanoma research and prevention.
Sun safety
Tobacco control
HPV vaccination
Cancer screening promotion
Healthy weight and obesity
Alcohol reduction
Occupational cancer prevention
Early detection
Indigenous cancer prevention
Research
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world — approximately 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70. The causes are clear: high UV radiation and a culture of outdoor activity. Prevention is equally clear: the SunSmart message (slip, slop, slap, seek, slide) is one of the most successful public health campaigns in Australian history.
Yet skin cancer rates remain high — particularly for older men who grew up before sun protection was established. Grant funding for ongoing sun safety education, particularly for men and outdoor workers, continues to be high-priority.
Equity in screening
Participation in national screening programmes is significantly lower for Indigenous, rural, and CALD Australians. Applications specifically addressing screening access for underserved populations are high-priority.
Tobacco in vulnerable populations
While national tobacco rates have fallen, rates remain high in Indigenous communities, people with mental illness, and people in lower socioeconomic groups. Applications targeting these communities address ongoing inequity.
HPV vaccination coverage
While the school-based programme is effective, catch-up coverage and coverage for non-school-enrolled young people is incomplete. Applications addressing vaccination gaps are targeted.
Combined risk factors
Obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol interact in cancer risk. Applications addressing multiple modifiable risk factors simultaneously are more comprehensive.
Tahua's grants management platform supports cancer prevention funders and health promotion organisations — with programme participation tracking, screening data, population reach measurement, and the reporting tools that help cancer prevention funders demonstrate their investment in stopping cancer before it starts.