About this module
This program has been developed by VCS Pathology, a division of the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), to provide primary Healthcare Practitioners across Australia with the knowledge and skills to be able to offer the option of HPV self-collection to eligible patients and increase cervical screening participation rates.This course will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Welcome
The aim of this education course is to equip Healthcare Practitioners with the skills and knowledge to offer HPV self-collection as part of the National Cervical Screening Program. On completion of this activity, GPs will be confident to discuss the option of HPV self-collection as well as conventional cervical screening with patients who are due or overdue for cervical screening. They will be able to appropriately manage results according to clinical guidelines, and support patients throughout the screening pathway. The course covers the progression of cervical disease and its relation to HPV infection, the current national policy and clinical guidelines on HPV self-collection, as well as strategies to address barriers and promote enablers to cervical screening.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this module:
Ms Sandy Anderson, Women’s Health Nurse at the Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative, for her review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander section, and Dr Ruth McNair AM, Associate Professor at University of Melbourne and GP, for her review of the LGBTIQ+ section.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this module, you will
1. Outline the natural progression of cervical disease and its relation to HPV infection.
2. Apply the National Cervical Screening Program clinical guidelines when ordering co-tests to case studies.
3. Assess the suitability of a patient for HPV self-collection according to National Cervical Screening Program clinical guidelines.
4. Compare the differences between the HPV self-collection pathway and clinician-collected pathway.
5. Evaluate cervical screening quality improvements suitable to your practice.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
This module is CPD approved for 4 hours Educational Activity; 3 hours Reviewing Performance and 5 hours Measuring Outcomes  with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and CPD accredited with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). It is CPD endorsed by the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP).
NAATSIHWP CPD hours
This activity is accredited with the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP).
Upon completion of this course in its entirety, participating GPs will be eligible 6 CPD hours.
ACN
This online course is endorsed by ACN according to their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards until September 2025. It has been allocated 5 CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard. CPD Endorsed
How and when will my CPD hours be allocated?
If you have completed the entire program, CPD hours and a Certificate of Completion will be provided by ACPCC within 3-4 weeks. If you complete the program before the end of December, your CPD hours will be attributed to that calendar year.
Audience
This module is designed for primary healthcare practitioners across Australia involved in the delivery, oversight, or support of cervical screening using self‑collection.
How to navigate
This module supports self-paced, short, focused learning. You can revisit it at any time.