Victorian nurses receive ACPCC scholarships for colposcopy training
Six nurses from across Victoria will receive training in colposcopy for early identification and management of cervical disease through the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) coloscopy scholarship program.
The ACPCC has been funded by the Victorian Department of Health to improve timely and equitable access to public colposcopy services in Victoria by:
- developing a nurse colposcopy training and governance model
- supporting training of nurse colposcopists across Victoria, particularly in areas with long colposcopy wait times, through scholarships.
The VICS promoted this opportunity to our member health services and provided some funding to backfill nurses’ roles while they undertake this training. As a result, the ACPCC has awarded scholarships to nurses from:
- Mercy Hospital for Women
- Northern Hospital
- Latrobe Regional Health
- Barwon Health.
These nurses will learn to perform colposcopy to the same quality standard as medical colposcopists, via:
- online learning
- in-person training at the Australian Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP)
- clinical placements at a tertiary facility in Melbourne.
The scholarship funding covers course fees, ASCCP membership, travel expenses, and accommodation in Melbourne for the training and placements. The trainees will receive support from the ACPCC Clinical Education Team, their colposcopy trainer, and each other – including through online ‘community of practice’ check-ins throughout 2026.
The training is competency-based – For each nurse to perform enough colposcopies and build confidence for independent practice, placements may extend into 2027.
Congratulations and good luck to all trainees. We look forward to hearing about your experience!
To learn more about this training program, email the Education Team at the ACPCC: education@acpcc.org.au
To explore other professional development opportunities for your cancer service staff, contact your local Integrated Cancer Service (ICS).
