National Lung Cancer Screening Program: What GPs need to know
28 Jul 2025
SPONSORED: Launched on 1 July, the landmark public health initiative aims to improve health outcomes through early detection.
Australia’s first National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) launched on 1 July 2025, marking a landmark public health initiative aimed at improving health outcomes through early detection.
The program is targeted at high-risk individuals aged 50–70 years with a smoking history. Through the program, eligible participants can have a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan every two years, with the aim of detecting lung cancer earlier.
Australians will be eligible, if they are:
- aged between 50–70 years
- show no signs or symptoms suggesting they may have lung cancer (they are asymptomatic)
- currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years
- have a history of tobacco cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years.
With lung cancer remaining the leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia, the NLCSP is expected to save hundreds of lives every year.
Program need
Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia.
In 2024, it was estimated that more than 15,000 Australians were diagnosed with lung cancer and, sadly almost 9000 Australians lost their life to the disease.
Lung cancer is often diagnosed in late stages, when symptoms become present. Large international randomised trials have shown that an LDCT scan can detect up to 70% of lung cancers at early stages and reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%.
Role of GPs
Doctors play a critical role in the delivery and success of the program. They are responsible for:
- discussing the program with potential participants
- assessing patient eligibility
- providing participants with a request for a LDCT scan
- enrolling participants in the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
- managing results.
More information on the NLCSP health workforce roles and responsibilities is available online.
A toolkit to support healthcare providers
To assist doctors to deliver the program, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a Healthcare Provider Toolkit with education information and resources.
The Healthcare Provider Toolkit includes:
- Information to support healthcare providers to prepare for and deliver the program
- Resources for healthcare providers and the public, including new resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- A link to the program-specific LDCT request form
- Links to CPD-accredited program eLearning modules developed by Lung Foundation Australia
- A communications toolkit containing promotional content
What GPs can do now
Now that the program is available, healthcare providers can take the following steps to support implementation:
- Complete the new program eLearning modules – Lung Foundation Australia has developed CPD-accredited education for healthcare providers
- Ensure your practice is integrated with the NCSR – the NCSR will be used for program referrals and reporting
- Familiarise yourself with the program guidelines – the guidelines outline the role of doctors and the screening and assessment pathway
- Identify eligible patients – review and update your smoking history practice data to identify patients who may be eligible and establish electronic medical record based prompts to help identify potential participants as they become eligible
- Ensure your practice has undertaken formal cultural safety training – this may assist in fostering and providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
Accessing resources and support
The full suite of education and resources for healthcare providers is available online.
Hard copy resources can be ordered via cancerscreeningcommunications@health.gov.au.
