Australia on track to be world’s first nation to eliminate cervical cancer

Australia is rapidly approaching a milestone once considered out of reach: becoming the first nation in the world to eliminate cervical cancer as a public‑health problem by 2035 according to a new report.

Decades of investment in prevention — most notably the rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2007 — have pushed national incidence rates to historic lows. In 2021, researchers recorded zero cases among women under 25, a first since national records began in 1982, an achievement experts attribute almost entirely to widespread HPV immunisation.

Public‑health researchers say this progress reflects a coordinated effort combining early adoption of HPV vaccination, robust school‑based delivery systems and a national shift from Pap smears to more sensitive HPV-based screening. These measures have driven down high‑risk HPV strains across the population and enabled earlier detection of precancerous changes. According to the Centre for Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control, national incidence fell to 6.3 per 100,000 in 2021, down from 6.6 the previous year, a trend mirrored by rising five‑year survival rates.

But the path to eradication — distinguished from elimination by its global rather than national scope — remains complex. Epidemiologists caution that while Australia may soon reach the World Health Organization’s threshold for “elimination,” fewer than four cases per 100,000 women annually, the disease will not disappear entirely. A University of Queensland review notes that population growth means hundreds of women are still likely to be diagnosed each year, even once the elimination benchmark is met.

The country’s progress has also revealed persistent inequities. Indigenous women continue to face cervical cancer rates more than double those of the broader population, along with far higher mortality. Researchers warn that declining vaccination and screening participation — now affecting more than one in four eligible women — could jeopardize gains unless outreach improves, especially in under‑screened communities and remote regions.

One significant shift has been the growing popularity of self-collection screening, which allows individuals to collect their own vaginal sample. Health officials say this option has been particularly transformative for people who previously avoided screening due to discomfort, cultural barriers or trauma. In 2024, nearly half of eligible Australians chose self-collection, a development experts describe as a “game changer” for equity in access.

Government initiatives have sought to reinforce that momentum. The Albanese government has invested in nationwide campaigns to raise awareness of the self-collection option and expand catch-up vaccination opportunities, including free single‑dose HPV vaccination for people up to age 26.

Public health leaders caution that maintaining progress will require sustained funding, improved outreach and a long‑term commitment to equitable care. Still, the consensus among researchers is clear: no country is closer to eliminating cervical cancer, and Australia may soon reshape what is possible in global cancer prevention.

Read the full report here.