We are pleased to announce that Sandy Anderson, former chair of BreastScreen Victoria’s Board of Management, has received an Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Apart from her vital contributions to the leadership of BreastScreen Victoria, Sandy has spent decades working in hospital and district nursing in Ballarat as well as in health promotions for the city’s Community Health Centre and Women’s Health Grampians.
For the last 30 years, Sandy has been dedicated to cancer prevention and improving health services for Indigenous women. She currently works in the medical clinic at the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative (BADAC), and has worked closely with Grampians BreastScreen to increase the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the program.
Sandy has coordinated many group screenings for local Indigenous women, and has assisted BreastScreen Victoria in maintaining a culturally sensitive, safe and positive clinical environment. A key activity in improving participation was the development of screening robes for Indigenous clients in 2018.
After selecting fabric from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander manufacturers, Sandy sewed 11 gowns for clients to wear at their screening appointment, earning wide coverage from local press and an ongoing increase in Indigenous clients. Grampians BreastScreen now screens 10% more than the state average.
BreastScreen Victoria would like to thank Sandy for her dedication and service, and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.