Lung Cancer Screening Program
This initiative from the Australian government department of health and aged care is designed for Australian residents who meet the eligible criteria listed below.
Lung cancer screening has been made available to eligible individuals since July 2025.
Eligibility
You are eligible for the program if you:
are aged between 50 and 70 years
show no signs or symptoms suggesting you may have lung cancer (that is, you 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.
You can continue to screen even if you stopped smoking more than 10 years ago.
You remain eligible to continue in the program until you:
age out (you turn 71)
become unable to undergo a low-dose CT scan (which may be temporary)
have findings on scans that mean you will exit the program.
You do not have to quit smoking to participate in the program.
How screening works
1. See your doctor or healthcare provider.
They will check if you are eligible by asking your age and smoking history.
2. Agree to participate.
If you agree to participate and wish to do a lung screen, the healthcare provider will give you a referral for a low-dose CT scan.
3. Get the scan.
Visit a screening location to undergo the scanning procedure.
4. Get your results.
Your healthcare provider will receive your scan results. The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) will contact you about what to do next.
Depending on the results, see your healthcare provider for next steps or screen again in 2 years’ time.
For more information, visit the Australian government website www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp or click the link below.