Aim:
To describe the role of primary care in the implementation and early delivery of Australia's NLCSP, share lessons from the program's first year of operation, and identify opportunities to further strengthen primary care engagement and capability.
Methods:
Program design, clinical guidance, workforce development activities, implementation planning and early operational experience from the NLCSP will be presented, with a focus on primary care responsibilities across participant identification, eligibility assessment, enrolment, screening coordination, smoking cessation support, communication of results and management of screen-detected findings.
Results:
The NLCSP was designed to be embedded within routine clinical care, with primary care playing a central role across the screening pathway. As the main entry point to the program, GPs and other primary care providers, such as Aboriginal Health Workers, play a key role in identifying and assessing eligible participants, facilitating informed choice, communicating results and coordinating follow-up care. In its first year, the program facilitated screening for more than 100,000 Australians, demonstrating strong early uptake and the feasibility of implementing lung cancer screening at a national scale. This success reflects NACCHO’s partnership in advancing equitable, accessible and culturally safe participation through co-design. While significant effort was invested in preparing and supporting the primary care sector through clinical guidance, education and implementation resources, early implementation experience has highlighted opportunities to continue to strengthen awareness of the program, increase confidence in navigating screening pathways and optimise integration into routine clinical practice. Ongoing engagement, education and practical support for primary care will be critical to maximising participation and program impact.
Conclusion:
Australia's early experience demonstrates that implementing lung cancer screening at scale is achievable with integration into existing clinical and imaging infrastructure; however, continued investment in primary care knowledge, engagement and capability will be critical to maximising the population health benefits of lung cancer screening.