Bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) is Australia's second most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death — yet it is one of the most preventable and, if detected early, most treatable cancers. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers all Australians aged 45-74 a free faecal occult blood test every two years, yet participation rates remain below 45%. Grant funding supports research, screening participation, patient support, and advocacy across the bowel cancer landscape.
Scale
Why bowel cancer is compelling for funders
National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NBCSP)
The Commonwealth funds free bowel cancer screening:
- FOBT (faecal occult blood test) kits mailed to eligible Australians
- Assessment and follow-up colonoscopy pathway
- Evaluation and quality improvement research
Cancer Australia
Research grants through the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research programme.
NHMRC
Competitive grants for bowel cancer basic and clinical research.
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
Genomics, immunotherapy, and early detection research for colorectal cancer.
Bowel Cancer Australia
The peak charity for bowel cancer:
- Research grants (Bowel Cancer Australia Research grants programme)
- Patient support (Bowel Care nurse programme, financial assistance)
- Screening promotion and public awareness
- Young-onset bowel cancer programme ("Never Too Young")
Cancer Council (state)
Gut Cancer Foundation
Research funding focused on gastrointestinal cancers including bowel cancer.
Research
Screening promotion
Despite the NBCSP, participation rates are below 45%. Funded programmes include:
- Community education campaigns (particularly for low-participation groups)
- GP engagement (supporting completion of positive FOBT follow-up)
- Reminders and navigator support
- Indigenous bowel cancer screening
- CALD community screening promotion
Patient navigation and support
Hereditary syndromes
Young-onset bowel cancer
Under-50 bowel cancer patients face:
- Diagnostic delay (lower clinical suspicion in younger people)
- Fertility and sexuality impacts of treatment
- Employment and financial impacts
- Specific psychosocial challenges
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bowel cancer
Rural and regional bowel cancer
A significant proportion of bowel cancer patients require a colostomy or ileostomy. Stoma support is an underserved aspect of bowel cancer care:
- Stoma nurse support
- Stoma product access and subsidy
- Psychosocial support for body image adaptation
- Peer support programmes for people with stomas
Screening participation
Australia's bowel cancer screening programme is effective but underutilised — participation is below 45%. Applications that improve screening participation (particularly among low-participation groups) directly save lives at low cost.
Young-onset trend
Young-onset bowel cancer is increasing in Australia and globally — a trend without a fully understood explanation. Research, support, and advocacy for younger patients is a growing priority.
Equity focus
Rural, Indigenous, and CALD Australians participate less in screening and have worse outcomes. Equity-focused applications are compelling.
Lynch syndrome and hereditary risk
Many Australians at high hereditary risk are unidentified — programmes improving Lynch syndrome identification and cascade testing in families have high impact at population level.
Tahua's grants management platform supports cancer funders and bowel cancer organisations — with screening programme tracking, patient support data, research grant management, and the reporting tools that help bowel cancer funders demonstrate their investment in prevention, early detection, and better outcomes for all Australians.