Free prostate cancer testing will be available for men at this year’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Men’s Country Football Championships through a landmark partnership between The Hospital Research Foundation Group and Country Football WA.
In a bid to encourage men to take a proactive approach to their health, free PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing will be offered via a blood test at the Country Football Championships Men’s finals on Sunday July 12 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, to men aged over 18.
The PSA test involves a simple blood test facilitated on-site by MediTests, a leading preventive health testing provider operating across Australia, with referrals issued on the day.
The tests will be provided free of charge thanks to the generous support of The Hospital Research Foundation Group’s partner Subi Group.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, and will affect one in six men by the age of 85. It accounts for almost 30% of all cancers diagnosed in Australian men.
This unique initiative aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer testing and the importance of early detection, while making health checks more accessible for men attending the event.
The Hospital Research Foundation Group’s Growth Impact Lead Ben Wilson said the partnership would make prostate cancer testing simple and accessible to those from regional areas.
“We know that it is often harder to access medical care in our regions and we commend Country Football WA, WA Football and our supporting partners for taking this step and promoting awareness around the importance of prostate cancer testing,” Mr Wilson said.
“I think all of us would have a friend, colleague or family member who has been impacted by prostate cancer, and the research tells us that the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.”
Country Football WA and WA Football Foundation spokesperson Louis Tanner said they were proud to support a potentially lifesaving initiative that impacted thousands of Western Australians every year.
“We are very happy to play a small part in ensuring access to PSA testing for prostate cancer is accessible and affordable and hopefully removes some of the stigma around testing that some men may still feel,” Mr Tanner said.
“It’s a great opportunity to combine an event that attracts a large crowd, many of whom travel for hours or days from regional and remote parts of the state to attend. Being able to provide a health service that may be challenging to access regionally is a benefit we are proud of and will continue to look for opportunities to do so at other events on the football calendar.”
MediTests Director James Richards said more Australians were becoming proactive about their health.
“People are increasingly seeking preventive health testing and early insights, rather than waiting until they’re unwell. This initiative makes prostate cancer screening more accessible and provides an easy first step for men to better understand their health,” Mr Richards said.
The Country Football Championships is a highlight of the WA football calendar with a packed fixture of games, activities and activations scheduled across four days from July 9 to 12.
In addition to PSA testing, The Hospital Research Foundation Group will host a range of awareness and fundraising activities – including a raffle giving people the chance to win a night at Crown Perth in a Premier King Room, valet parking, Crystal Club access and champagne on arrival.
