Aboriginal Women's Health Day in Redfern
Aboriginal women came together at Redfern Park for a welcoming day of free, culturally safe health checks, connection and community, with a record number having a breast screen.
“The deadly girls in the van were so awesome and friendly. That’s what you need to make it an awesome day — women feeling welcomed and having friendly workers in the breast screening vans to make it feel comfortable.”
A joyful and welcoming day at Redfern Park brought Aboriginal women together to care for their health, connect with community and access vital screening services.
On Wednesday 29 April 2026, we were proud to be part of the annual Aboriginal Women’s Health and Wellbeing Day in Redfern, delivered in partnership with Sydney Local Health District and a wide network of community organisations. More than 70 Aboriginal women joined us on the day, making it the largest event since it began in 2024.
Throughout the day, women were able to access free, culturally safe health services alongside activities designed to nurture wellbeing and connection. This included on‑site breast screening, self‑collected cervical screening, bowel screening kits and flu vaccinations, as well as women’s health consultations and health information.
For many women, the experience was about much more than appointments. There were haircuts and styling, a yarning and weaving circle, refreshments, and the chance to take home brand‑new winter clothing thanks to Thread Together. Services like Mudgin‑Gal Women’s Place, Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern, Cancer Council NSW, Dress for Success, TAFE NSW and many others helped create a space where women felt comfortable, supported and celebrated.
This year recorded the highest number of women accessing breast screening at the event, with 26 Aboriginal women screened on the day. Many women shared how much they valued the friendly and supportive environment.
The Aboriginal Women’s Health and Wellbeing Day began in 2024 when BreastScreen NSW Sydney, supported by a grant from the Cancer Institute NSW, partnered with SLHD Population Health to create a dedicated event for Aboriginal women. Following its success, the event has been funded and delivered every year since, continuing to grow in both size and community involvement.
We are committed to supporting Aboriginal women to stay strong, healthy and informed. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are recommended to have free breast screening every two years from age 40, and we work closely with communities to make screening welcoming and safe. You can also find information about culturally safe care on our page for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, or check screening locations across NSW to see when a service is near you.
We look forward to continuing this important partnership and returning next year to celebrate women’s health, connection and community once again.
