Sestaman: An Indigenous evaluation of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program

What is the study about?

Sestaman is the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led evaluation of a new cancer screening program. The study will evaluate the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP), which began in July 2025. This study will bring together world leading Indigenous researchers in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to:

1) Define success of the NLCSP as determined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

2) Develop an Indigenous-led evaluation framework for the NLCSP

3) Evaluate the NLCSP using the Indigenous-led evaluation framework, data collection and analysis

4) Influence and enact change in the NLCSP by translating evaluation findings into policy and program improvements that serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities

Why is this study important for Mob?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples stand to benefit the most from the National Lung Cancer Screening Program through the early detection and treatment of lung cancers.

This study will evaluate the program’s effectiveness, understand participant experiences, and identify barriers and enablers for services, helping ensure it meets community needs.

The study’s findings will be translated into practice for the health system and providers to improve NLCSP experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This will increase access to culturally safe early detection through screening and ultimately reduce disparities in lung cancer outcomes.

For more information about the NLCSP visit National Lung Cancer Screening Program – NACCHO

How you can get involved

We will be inviting Mob to get involved in the evaluation by taking part in community focus groups and surveys, and we will also be seeking interest from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations that would like to become community partners.

To be kept up to date on the project and hear about opportunities to become involved, please complete this short form or scan this QR code.

Sestaman Team

Our funders and partners

The research is funded by Cancer Australia through the Partnerships for Cancer Research grant program (GO7216). Grant Identification Number: 2024/PCR/2045024.

Our community partners include:

National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)