Tag: John Paul Janke

Stay Healthy and Strong

The brief

33 Creative were engaged by the Department of Health & Aged Care and Cancer Council Australia to deliver the national bowel cancer screening campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If detected early, almost all bowel cancers are treatable, however only 1 in 3 eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are completing bowel cancer screening. Increasing screening rates will save lives.

Stay Healthy and Strong is a multi-year, integrated campaign that is aiming to create culturally safe dialogue to encourage more participants to screen and stay strong. The first year focused on raising national awareness, with 2023 activity focused on regional activation to target regional and remote communities who are in hot zones and have a shorter completion period due to hot weather.

Gubbi Gubbi Doctor, Dr Joel Wenitong

The approach

Informed by developmental research, the campaign was designed as a multiyear approach to raise awareness and education to lead to positive behaviours and increased screening.

The first year of the campaign commenced in July 2022 with an on-air period of 7 weeks, supported by two additional bursts of media, PR and stakeholder engagement through trusted community networks. The campaign creative features Gubbi Gubbi Doctor, Joel Wenitong. Featuring a trusted health professional aimed to break down barriers, reduce shame and reinforce the importance of staying healthy and strong to spend time with family.

Building on this approach in 2023, the campaign focused on enhancing reach to hot zone areas, where the only period of screening is over winter months from April – July. Many of these northern communities are also in remote areas.

The 2023 campaign commenced in April with a targeted hot zone stakeholder focus, airing in 12 regional markets across SBS/NITV and 25 local regional and remote First Nations community publications from May. The paid media strategy utilised tailored hot zone creative featuring Waanya Gangalidda and Erub man Trevor Tim through channels into remote and regional communities, with placement of the Dr Joel creative in tandem for all other states.

Stay Healthy and Strong, National Bowel Cancer Campaign ambassador, Waanyi, Gangalidda and Erub man, Trevor Tim. Stay Healthy and Strong, National Bowel Cancer Campaign assets

A new instructional video was also developed to support health professionals in face-to-face engagement with community groups. This responded to community feedback that understanding how the kits work resulted in a stronger likeliness to complete the screening test, by breaking down fear of the unknown.

All content is also available via the National Bowel Cancer Screening channel on IndigiTube, hosted by First Nations Media Australia.

Artwork graphics and icons featured through the campaign are by Ngarrindjeri man Jordan Lovegrove.

Stay Healthy and Strong, National Bowel Cancer Campaign ambassador, Gamilaraay woman, Aunty Lucy Allan.

The impact

Early results from the campaign show the strengths-based approach is driving positive change, and momentum within the community is growing.

In 2022:

  • 1 in 4 people reported campaign recall
  • 1 in 3 people reported discussing the campaign with others

So far in 2023, we have achieved:

  • 92% increase in website visits from 2022-2023
  • 95% increase in resource downloads from 2022-2023
  • NITV program integration with Over the Black Dot reached 167,231 with more than 385,340 impressions

Future campaigns aim to build on this foundation work and further encourage conversations around bowel cancer screening, using a strengths based positive approach.

We’d like to thank our campaign talent and spokespeople, for sharing their personal experiences to break down stigma and encourage others in the community to stay healthy and strong.

  • Dr Joel Wenitong (Gubbi Gubbi)
  • John Paul Janke (Wuthathi, Meriam)
  • Trevor Tim (Waanya, Gangalidda, Erub)
  • Simone Jordan (Wiradjuri)
  • Aunty Lucy Allan (Gamilaraay)
  • Renee Bani (Kaanju and Wagadagam)
  • Russell Jeffrey (Woolwanga)
  • Jill Gallagher (Gunditjmarra)
  • Uncle Moogy (Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Elder)

We were pleased this campaign was recognised with the First Nations Media Australia Award for Best 2023 Campaign. It was also shortlisted in the 2023 B&T Awards for Best Regional Media Campaign!

The brief

33 Creative were engaged by the Department of Health & Aged Care and Cancer Council Australia to deliver the national bowel cancer screening campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If detected early, almost all bowel cancers are treatable, however only 1 in 3 eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are completing bowel cancer screening. Increasing screening rates will save lives.

Stay Healthy and Strong is a multi-year, integrated campaign that is aiming to create culturally safe dialogue to encourage more participants to screen and stay strong. The first year focused on raising national awareness, with 2023 activity focused on regional activation to target regional and remote communities who are in hot zones and have a shorter completion period due to hot weather.

Gubbi Gubbi Doctor, Dr Joel Wenitong

The approach

Informed by developmental research, the campaign was designed as a multiyear approach to raise awareness and education to lead to positive behaviours and increased screening.

The first year of the campaign commenced in July 2022 with an on-air period of 7 weeks, supported by two additional bursts of media, PR and stakeholder engagement through trusted community networks. The campaign creative features Gubbi Gubbi Doctor, Joel Wenitong. Featuring a trusted health professional aimed to break down barriers, reduce shame and reinforce the importance of staying healthy and strong to spend time with family.

Building on this approach in 2023, the campaign focused on enhancing reach to hot zone areas, where the only period of screening is over winter months from April – July. Many of these northern communities are also in remote areas.

The 2023 campaign commenced in April with a targeted hot zone stakeholder focus, airing in 12 regional markets across SBS/NITV and 25 local regional and remote First Nations community publications from May. The paid media strategy utilised tailored hot zone creative featuring Waanya Gangalidda and Erub man Trevor Tim through channels into remote and regional communities, with placement of the Dr Joel creative in tandem for all other states.

The concerts next performances were from Jessie Lloyd and Dr Shellie Morris AO for a nod to the past. We then honoured those who have passed with Radical Son and Yuwaya Wilma Lu Danz Company. The concerts final performances facilitated by Culture is Life, looked toward the future with musical performances from Madi Colville-Walker and Kiwat both . Interspersed throughout the concert were speeches from the Healing Foundation Chair, Steve Larkin, the Hon Linda Burney MP, the Hon Senator Patrick Dodson, Aunty Pat Turner and Ian Hamm from the Healing Foundation Stolen Generations Reference Group and members of the Youth Reference Group, Blake Tatafu and Ellen Karimanovic.

The Event also included a gathering space and culturally safe spaces.

All images supplied by Healing Foundation.

Smoking Ceremony Welcome to Country Paul House and Aunty Matilda House-Williams Muggera at Counting Actions Not Anniversaries Counting Actions Not Anniversaries Counting Actions Not Anniversaries

The event was recorded live and can be viewed online at The Healing Foundation website.

John Paul Janke urges mob to screen regularly for bowel cancer

After turning 50, Wuthathi and Meriam man from Far North Queensland, John Paul Janke, did his first bowel cancer screening test using the free mailing kit sent to his home.

Having completed the test a couple of times since then, he is encouraging all mob over 50 to complete the simple screening test that can save your life.

“As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we need to have important conversations about our health,” says John Paul.

John Paul Janke urges mob to screen regularly for bowel cancer

“Bowel screening is something that is simple, free and easy to do. We need to encourage our brothers and sisters to participate, there’s absolutely no shame in looking after your health and wellbeing.”

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but with regular screening and if found early, nearly all bowel cancers can be successfully treated.

“There is no shame in doing the test and looking after yourself and your family,” says John Paul in the podcast. As a father of four boys, his health is an important part of being there for his family.

“As a Dad I want to be around for my family for years to come, to see my boys grow up and become young men. The test is simple, free and easy, and the outcome is huge – it can save your life,” says John Paul.

John Paul encourages people to have a yarn with their health professional if they have any concerns about bowel cancer screening and how to do the screening test.

“There is no time like the present. If you’re 50 or over, have a yarn to your local AMS or healthcare provider about doing the test, get on top of it early,” says John Paul.

All Australian’s aged 50-74 will receive the self-screening kit in the mail every two years. Replacement kits can be ordered through GPs or health clinics, or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.

“There is no shame you mob – screen for bowel cancer today, you won’t regret it,” says John Paul.

John Paul Janke is host of NITV’s flagship program The Point, Presenter of ABC Radio Canberra and also contributes occasionally to The Project on Network Ten.

For more information about the benefits of bowel cancer screening visit www.indigenousbowelscreen.com.au.