Inflating awareness: Bringing lung screening to life at Pride events

Pride is all about showing up, celebrating community and looking out for one another, and that includes having conversations about our health. They are also powerful places to start conversations about your health, including lung cancer screening.  

Through the It’s Good to Know campaign,, ACON has been taking lung cancer screening conversations to LGBTQ+ community events across Australia providing welcoming spaces where people can ask questions, learn who may be eligible, and feel more confident in discussing lung screening with a healthcare provider. 

The star of the show? An inflatable CT scanner that definitely turned some heads. Designed to grab attention and get people curious, the scanner playfully dubbed the ‘glory hole’ is a fun way to start conversations about the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP), who can take part and why finding lung cancer early matters. 

The inflatable scanner first appeared at Midsumma Carnival in Victoria, where it was a hit with community and encouraged people to stop, chat and learn more about lung cancer screening. It later featured at Mardi Gras Fair Day in Sydney, helping create a relaxed, approachable way for community members to connect with trusted health information. 

Scott Walsberger, Manager, Population Health Programs Unit at ACON said the inflatable scanner was more than a conversation starter. It helped people visualise what screening involves and made it easier to ask questions about the life-saving program. 

"People come over to have a chat and ask about our 'glory hole'. Not only does it grab people's attention, but it really helps to start conversations about this life-saving program and why eligible people within our communities should go and have their scan. The inflatable scanner helps demystify the process by showing that screening involves a simple ring-shaped machine and a flat bed, using humour to make the conversation feel more relaxed and approachable," he said. 

ACON also encouraged community members to spread the word through pledge cards - a simple way to take action and support the people they care about. Eligible community members could make a commitment to talk to their healthcare provider about screening, while friends, partners and family members could pledge to have a conversation with someone who might be eligible. 

"Not everyone that we see at these events is eligible for the Program, but that doesn't mean they don't have a role to play. We all have someone in our lives who is likely eligible, and by starting conversations with our loved ones and spreading the word, we can help support more people to screen," said Mr. Walsberger. 

The message has also travelled beyond the big city celebrations, with ACON bringing the conversation to events including ChillOut Festival in Daylesford and Top End Pride in Darwin, connecting with LGBTQ+ communities in different parts of the country. 

By combining creativity, trusted peer conversations and practical next steps, ACON is helping make lung cancer screening feel more visible, inclusive and approachable. For LGBTQ+ communities, the activation is not just about handing out information; it is about reducing stigma, building confidence and making it easier for people to find out whether screening is right for them. 

Because when it comes to lung cancer screening, it’s good to know, and even better to start the conversation.