Australia runs national screening and immunisation programs that switch on at set ages, from the first vaccines at birth to bowel and breast screening in later life. A preventive health check with your GP is the easiest way to know which of these you are due for, because the list changes every decade. Knowing the ages in advance means a screening letter or a reminder never comes as a surprise. This guide maps the main programs by life stage, so you can see what applies to you and your family at Harpley Doctors in Werribee.
Key Takeaways
- Childhood vaccines follow the National Immunisation Program from birth to 4 years, then school.
- Cervical screening is every 5 years from 25 to 74.
- Bowel screening is every 2 years from 45 to 74, with kits mailed from age 50.
- Screening mammograms are every 2 years from 50 to 74.
- From 65, more vaccines are funded, and yearly health assessments start at 75.
Babies, children and teenagers
Prevention in childhood is mostly about vaccines and development. The Department of Health’s infant and child immunisation schedule starts with hepatitis B at birth, then vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 4 years. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended from 6 months to under 5 years. Our childhood vaccination schedule for Victoria lists each dose.
In Victoria, children must be up to date with their vaccines to enrol in childcare and kindergarten under No Jab No Play, and the evidence is an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register. At secondary school, the program continues with HPV and whooping cough vaccines in Year 7 and meningococcal ACWY in Year 10. Missed vaccines can be caught up under the program up to age 20, or 25 for HPV.
Growth and development are the other half of childhood prevention. Our GPs provide children’s developmental checks and early intervention for children and adolescents.
Your 20s and 30s
Cervical screening starts at 25. The National Cervical Screening Program recommends an HPV test every 5 years for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74. Harpley Doctors offers both clinician-collected and self-collection tests; our article on how a cervical screening test works explains the difference.
These years are also a good time to set a baseline with a regular GP, talk about contraception and sexual health, and ask about how often to have an STI test. If you become pregnant, a whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy is recommended between 20 and 32 weeks of each pregnancy.
Not sure which screening tests or vaccines you are due for? A GP at Harpley Doctors can check your history and set out a plan.
Your 40s
This is the decade when routine risk checks begin. Healthdirect recommends a blood pressure check, cholesterol tests, a diabetes risk assessment and a heart disease risk assessment, among others. Two national programs also open up:
- Bowel screening from 45. Healthdirect’s bowel cancer screening page explains that people aged 45 to 49 can ask for their first kit online or by calling 1800 627 701. The test is done at home with two tiny stool samples.
- BreastScreen Australia. Women aged 40 to 49 can book a screening mammogram, although invitations start at 50.
Medicare also funds a one-off health assessment for people aged 45 to 49 who are at risk of a chronic disease, and a type 2 diabetes risk assessment every 3 years for people aged 40 to 49 at high risk. Harpley Doctors also offers a heart health check.
Your 50s and 60s
From 50, the screening programs come to you. Bowel screening kits arrive in the mail every 2 years from 50 to 74, and BreastScreen Australia invites women aged 50 to 74 for a mammogram every 2 years.
The newest program is lung cancer screening. According to healthdirect’s lung cancer screening page, it is for people aged 50 to 70 with no symptoms who currently smoke or quit in the past 10 years, and who have a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years. The test is a low-dose CT scan, Medicare pays for scans in the program, and you need a request from a doctor, so your GP is the starting point.
Vaccines matter here too: the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends a whooping cough vaccine dose for adults at 50 and again at 65.
65 and over
Several vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program from 65: a yearly flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and two doses of shingles vaccine given 2 to 6 months apart. COVID-19 vaccination is now an annual dose, funded once a year for people aged 65 to 74 and twice a year, about 6 months apart, from 75. Our immunisation page covers what the clinic provides.
From 75, Medicare funds a health assessment every 12 months. Healthdirect also recommends regular sight, hearing and falls-risk checks in your 70s. The bowel and breast screening programs target people up to 74. Women aged 75 and over can still book a BreastScreen mammogram, so talk to your GP about what makes sense for you.
Keeping track of your preventive health checks
Skin checks sit outside any age band. Cancer Council does not recommend population screening; instead, people at high risk may benefit from regular full skin examinations, and everyone else should check their own skin and see a doctor about new or changing spots. Our guide on how often to get a skin check covers who is high risk.
The simplest way to stay on schedule is to see the same practice. Harpley Doctors runs a systematic reminder system for preventive care and early detection, and a GP who knows your history can tell you which preventive health check is next. For a closer look at what happens during the appointment itself, read what a regular health check-up covers. Book online through HealthEngine or call (03) 8731 1330.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do screening programs replace a visit to my GP?
No. Screening is for people without symptoms. If you notice a symptom or change that worries you, book a GP appointment rather than waiting for your next screening invitation.
I am 46. Will a bowel screening kit arrive automatically?
Not yet. Kits are mailed automatically from age 50. Between 45 and 49 you can ask for your first kit online or by calling 1800 627 701.
How do I check which vaccines my child has had?
The Australian Immunisation Register records vaccines given in Australia. You can get an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register, and it is the evidence used for No Jab No Play enrolment in Victoria.
Are consultations bulk billed?
Yes. All consultations and procedures at Harpley Doctors are bulk billed. See Patient Info and Fees for fees and practice policies.
Find out which checks you and your family are due for. Book online through HealthEngine or call Harpley Doctors in Werribee.