Thanks to funding from Preventive Health SA, our team travelled to Port Pirie last month as part of our Talking Sh!t campaign, which we’re currently delivering across regional South Australia.

Led by our ambassador, AFL legend and contemporary Indigenous artist Gavin Wanganeen, we’ve been sharing life-saving messages, breaking down taboos, and connecting with local communities – one conversation at a time, one story at a time.

Specifically, we were involved in the Tarpari Wellbeing Day, partnering with the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN) to have a presence at this amazing event in the Memorial Gardens at Port Pirie. With over 2000 attendees, it was an incredible success and we sincerely thank YNLHN for inviting us. We loved meeting everyone, talking sh!t and raising awareness about bowel screening and just how easy it is to do.

Almost half of the population in Port Pirie and the surrounding area falls within the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) age range of 45 to 74, yet only 42% participate in the screening program – slightly below the South Australian average of 44%.

Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia. But here’s the good news: if detected early, up to 99% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated or even prevented.

The bowel screening test is quick and easy to do at home. It’s not a test for cancer, but checks for microscopic traces of blood across samples from two separate bowel movements. Giving two sh!ts could quite literally save your life.

If you’re aged 50-74 and need to order a replacement bowel screening kit, or are aged 45-49 and haven’t yet registered to receive your first test, please arrange for your free test to be sent to you by visiting the National Cancer Screening Register website.