BreastScreen Victoria has joined forces with an Indigenous artist to ensure Aboriginal women feel more comfortable during their mammograms.
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Women who undertake a mammogram will receive a free, locally-designed cultural screening shawl, designed by Yorta Yorta artists Kylie Taylor, to wear during the procedure and to take home with them.
Called 'Titta to Titta', the shawls aim to make sure women feel more comfortable, respected and culturally safe.
"The artwork 'Titta to Titta' was inspired by the land surrounding the Wimmera," Ms Taylor said.
"The colours represent my favourite places I regularly visit. Pink is for Pink Lake. Blue is for open sky. Yellow is for desert sands. The birds represent freedom."
This project is part of a series of visits to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across Victoria. 'The Beautiful Shawl Project' is an award-winning initiative that has visited 15 communities since it started in October 2018.
Goolum Goolum Medical Clinic Manager Wally Coleman said he is proud to host the project.
"This project will allow our women to undertake breast screening in a culturally safe manner," he said.
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"The Beautiful Shawl program will allow us to deliver women's health messages whilst celebrating our uniqueness."
BreastScreen Victoria chief executive Terri Smith said the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
"Aboriginal women have told us the cultural screening shawls provided a culturally inclusive and positive experience when they had their breast screen," she said.
"It's important that we can reduce barriers to breast screening wherever possible because early detection saves lives."
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for Aboriginal women.
Aboriginal women typically screen at lower rates than the general population; however, the number of Aboriginal women accessing breast screens increases each year.
For information and bookings, visit: breastscreen.org.au or call 13 20 50.
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