Our Werribee clinic received a couple of special visitors yesterday – State Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly MP and Federal Member for Lalor, Joanne Ryan MP.
BreastScreen Victoria CEO Terri Smith, Sarah Connolly MP, and Joanne Ryan MP outside of Werribee BreastScreen.
Late last year, we sent our Annual Report to all Victorian MPs. After receiving the report, Ms Connolly was motivated to get in touch with us to set up a visit to Werribee BreastScreen, the closest clinic to her electorate, to learn more about our program. Ms Connolly extended the invitation to Federal Member for Lalor and women's health advocate, Ms Ryan.
The MPs met with our CEO Terri Smith, Site Manager Nikolina Nancovska, and Clinic Radiographer Claire Charalambou to tour the clinic and our dedicated screening room.
BreastScreen Victoria CEO Terri Smith, Joanne Ryan MP, and Sarah Connolly MP with Radiographer Claire Charalambou.
In between chats about community health, the BreastScreen Victoria team gave Ms Connolly and Ms Ryan a detailed look at the clinic's day-to-day running, how breast screening works, and the screening's ins and outs process from a client perspective.
Joanne Ryan MP and Sarah Connolly MP.
BreastScreen Victoria CEO Terri Smith said, "It was great to show Sarah Connolly MP and Joanne Ryan MP around our friendly and welcoming Werribee breast screening site. Radiographer Claire Charalambou was ready to answer questions and demonstrate her passion for the important work she does."
"We had a great chat about how Members of Parliament can help promote BreastScreen to their constituents and the importance of population-based screening for breast cancer as well as the bowel and cervical screening programs available to all Victorians," Terri said.
In the City of Wyndham, 48.3% of eligible people had a breast screen with BreastScreen Victoria (2017-2019 participation). This is below the average percentage of people who screened across the state (53.8%).
"Early detection through regular breast screening can save lives," Ms Connolly said. "We should all be spreading the word; reminding our friends and family of just how important screening is."
Werribee BreastScreen clinic is located at 27 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030. Book your breast screen online or by calling 13 20 50.