The Beautiful Shawl Project
To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October, thanks to BreastScreen Victoria, Fed Square are proudly promoting a heart-warming documentary that follows an innovative project that’s designed to provide a safe and empowering screening experience for First Nations women.
In this short film, BreastScreen Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) capture the reactions and feelings of people within indigenous communities and bring to life an important initiative.
Enjoy stunning scenery, hear stories of determination and be inspired by the incredible designs of First Nations peoples.
Official Partners
     
The Beautiful Shawl ProjectÂ
The Beautiful Shawl project is a collaborative model that provides a safe and empowering screening experience for Aboriginal women
BreastScreen Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) joined forces with eight Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across the state to reduce barriers to breast screening through ‘The Beautiful Shawl Project’.
Working with local community artists to produce customised screening shawls, the project partners provided Aboriginal woman with a culturally appropriate, familiar and beautiful garment to wear during screening, and to keep afterwards.
This ground-breaking initiative documented in an uplifting short film is available to watch in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
BreastScreen Victoria’s pink mobile screening travelled to each Aboriginal community health hub providing free and accessible screens.
It quickly became evident to everyone involved in the initiative that they were participating in something particularly special.
This heart-warming documentary follows this innovative project on Country, and captures the reactions and feelings of the communities, staff and the clients themselves.
About BreastScreen Victoria
BreastScreen Victoria aims to ensure equitable participation in breast screening for all women in Victoria aged 50-74.
Aboriginal women face complex barriers to screening, and therefore participate at lower rates than the general population.
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) champions community control and health equality for Victorian Aboriginal communities including a focus on cancer screening for Aboriginal people.
To find out more about BreastScreen Victoria head here.