Very remote areas
This section compares performance indicator results between Major cities and very remote areas only. However, as noted in Performance of the screening program, both Remote and very remote areas had poorer participation and higher positivity rates than all other areas.
Australians living in Very remote areas had a lower participation rate than those living in Major cities. They also experienced a higher screening positivity rate than Australians living in Major cities yet had a slightly lower follow-up diagnostic assessment rate and a longer median time between a positive screen and an assessment.
Australians living in Very remote areas had a lower age-standardised bowel cancer incidence rate and a lower age-standardised mortality rate compared with those living in Major cities (Table 4.2).
Indicator | Summary of performance indicators for Very remote areas compared with Major cities | Very remote | Major cities |
|---|---|---|---|
PI 1 - Participation rate | Lower participation rate | 26.5% | 41.7% |
PI 2 - Screening positivity rate | Higher screening positivity rate | 8.2% | 5.6% |
PI 3 - Diagnostic assessment rate | Lower diagnostic assessment follow-up rate | 83.8% | 85.1% |
PI 4 - Time between positive screen and diagnostic assessment | Longer median time | 78 days | 58 days |
PI 9 - Adverse events –hospital admission | Comparison not published | n.p. | n.p. |
PI 10 - Incidence of bowel cancer | Lower age-standardised incidence rate | 101 per 100,000 | 105 per 100,000 |
PI 11 - Mortality from bowel cancer | Lower age-standardised mortality rate | 19 per 100,000 | 25 per 100,000 |
Notes:
- The participation indicator PI 1 is reported against the period 2023–2024 with follow-up to June 2025. The screening indicator PI 2 is reported against the period 2024. The assessment indicators PIs 3 and 4 are reported against the period 2024 with follow-up to 31 December 2025. Incidence (PI 10) is reported for 2017–2021. Mortality (PI 11) is reported for 2019–2023.
- Indicators PI 3–9 rely on information being reported to the NCSR (ACSQHC 2020). As this NBCSP form return is not mandated by the NBCSP, there may be incomplete form return and incomplete data. However, Participant follow-up function (PFUF) data are now used to supplement missing colonoscopy form data and MBS claims.
- PI 5a (adenoma detection rate), PI 5b (PPV of diagnostic assessment for detecting adenoma), PI 6a (bowel cancer detection rate), PI 6b (PPV of diagnostic assessment for detecting bowel cancer), PI 7 (interval cancer rate), and PI 8 (cancer clinico-pathological stage distribution) are not reported due to data incompleteness or unavailability.
Sources: AIHW ACD 2021; AIHW NMD; AIHW analysis of NCSR as at 31 December 2025 (NCSR RDE 6/02/2026).
ACSQHC (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) (2020) Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Sydney, accessed 14 May 2025.