Supporting a 'targeted national skin check program'
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!!
Because of your support a formal petition for a ‘targeted national skin check program’ was successfully tabled in the House of Representatives as the first order of business for the 2024 Australian political calendar.
On behalf of everyone at Skin Check Champions (and all those who’ve had to do battle with skin cancer)…
THANK YOU.
In the last two decades since a formal skin cancer screening model was proposed – and deemed too expensive, advances in technology, talent and treatment pathways have significantly improved. Meaning… a more efficient and effective model is now a viable option for Government investment.
It’s called ‘Project Check Mate’, and early stage economic forecasting show a 30:1 return on investment for the healthcare system, not to mention the thousands of lives saved every year from a co-ordinated pop-up skin check program, targeting high risk communities (particularly in remote / regional Australia).
Non-profit charity Skin Check Champions has worked on a viable model for this program for over a decade, checking more than 10,000 Australian’s and gathering data and improving strategies to inform such an initiative. Their average rate of detection is up around 1 in 25. Which is far higher than any other model previously proposed.
The key is technology, talent and targeting. Together, with Federal and State Departments, we believe it’s time Australia back a ‘Targeted National Skin Check Program’ and start leading the world in the early detection of skin cancer, rather than skin cancer deaths.
Together, we can make skin cancer history.
🌞 🔍 🏁
Nothing like this has been officially presented to the Federal Government before and we are excited to see what they will come back to us with.
Both federal health ministers have 90 days to respond to the petition so everything that happens between now and then may help win their support.
As a charity, we’ve submitted a request for funding as part of the 2024/25 budget and will be doing the same for State Treasuries. We’ll also be sitting on a skin cancer round table in May, and are working with Cancer Australia, Cancer NSW and the leaders in the skin cancer space like MIA and MPA to form the most efficient, effective and scalable strategy.
We welcome collaboration so if you have any ideas or partners you think we should engage with please let us know and we’ll do our best to make them work.
It’s old school, but a ‘letter to the minister’ or your local MP / Senator can really make a difference. Especially as they deliberate on a response to the petition.
It takes a bit of work so we’ve drafted up an example which you’re more than welcome to use:
Simply download / copy the document and put in your details.
Feel free to add in a personal story, insights or thoughts about the issue of skin cancer.
We’re more than happy to help with press opportunities or follow-up meetings so feel free to reach out. The more support we have on The Hill the more likely we’ll be to see some positive action. Let’s keep the momentum going!!
Also… with the magnificent appointments of Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer as Australians Of The Year – we are very excited for the national spotlight to be firmly on this important issue.
Much love and congratulations to them and everyone working tirelessly to save Aussies from this horrible scourge.
Skin Check Champions from all over the country are sharing their stories to build momentum behind this important initiative. We hope their stories inspire you to do the same and help save so many more Aussies from our 'national cancer'. Every signature counts!!
To stay in touch with our progress, learn more about the cause and become a ‘Skin Check Champion’, please leave your details and we’ll be in touch soon! Thanks so much for getting involved.
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© 2026 Skin Check Champions. Made with love on Dharawal Country with respect for the Traditional, First Nations Owners and their elders, past, present & emerging. Any statistics used are quoted from the work of our friends at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and any medical information we relay is not intended to replace that of your wonderful GP / specialist.
