Waminda welcomes Aboriginal women for breast screening

Every woman screened during this time will receive the United in Strength Shawl - a beautifully symbolic gift that honours the strength it takes to care for yourself and your community. 

Designed by Maddison Jones, proud Aboriginal woman, local artist and Waminda team member, the shawl’s artwork is deeply symbolic. It features a flowing river surrounded by footsteps and gatherings which represent life’s journey, resilience, healing, and the power of women coming together in sisterhood and solidarity. 

More than just a shawl, this month carrying an urgent message: now is the time to book your free breast screen. 

The shawl was officially launched at a heartfelt community event at Nowra Showground on 24th July 2025, where BreastScreen NSW South Eastern Sydney Illawarra and Waminda, a NSW Aboriginal community controlled health service , celebrated their ongoing partnership to improve breast screening access and health outcomes for Aboriginal women.

Bringing breast screen closer to home

This year's partnership marked a major milestone. For the first time, our mobile screening van visited Wreck Bay, an Aboriginal community in Jervis Bay. After months of collaborative planning with Waminda and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Land Council, the service was successfully delivered on 21st July 2025, with women from the community proudly receiving the shawl following their breast screen. 

“This was a pilot visit and a testament to what’s possible when community, culture and health services come together,” said Faith Shearer from BreastScreen NSW.  

“The women were excited, not only to take part, but to receive something that reflected their community and culture.” 

Appointments are quick, with all female staff, and could save your life.

^{Maddison Jones with the United in Strength Shawl feautring artwork that symbolises resilience, healing and sisterhood.}

_{Teamwork on Country: Waminda and BreastScreenNSW staff at Wreck Bay's first mobile screening clinic.}