“Nothing else in your body works unless the air gets through your lungs.”
In this episode we explore one of the most significant public health milestones in Australia’s recent history: the launch of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program on 1 July 2025, a program six years in the making, that offers free, bulk‑billed low‑dose CT scans for eligible high‑risk individuals aged 50–70. In October, James O’Loghlin sat down with Mark Brooke, CEO of Lung Foundation Australia, three months after the program’s rollout, to discuss what it means for patients, clinicians, and the future of lung health.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Australia, the Asia‑Pacific, and worldwide, despite being only the fifth most common cancer. The stigma associated with lung cancer and smoking has meant people delay seeking help – leading to later diagnosis and more limited treatment options.
In this episode, we unpack why lung cancer demands national attention and Mark explains the evidence behind the program, how people can access it, and why detecting lung cancer before symptoms appear dramatically improves survival.
We also look at the program’s early impact: 28,000 people screened in the first three months, 260 lung cancersdetected, and a growing number of incidental findings that are helping clinicians identify other lung diseases. With mobile CT trucks supporting rural and remote communities, 96% of Australians are now within three hours of a scan.
Mark discusses how the program may also help uncover misdiagnosed occupational lung diseases — particularly in people exposed to asbestos or silica dust — and why he’s optimistic occupational exposure will be added to eligibility criteria in the future. Looking ahead to 2032, he shares a bold, data‑driven vision: lung cancer survivorship reaching 50% or more at five years, driven by screening, earlier intervention, and increasingly effective therapies.
Key Takeaway: If you’re over 50 and have ever smoked, this program could save your life. Talk to your GP. Don’t wait for symptoms. Early intervention is the difference between a late‑stage diagnosis and a curable disease.
Mark Brooke has over 28 years’ experience leading a diverse range of medical research, consumer health and family support organisations, and is currently Chief Executive Officer of Lung Foundation Australia, taking up this role in September 2018. His previous appointments include CEO of HeartKids Limited, CEO of Asthma Australia and CEO of Playgroup Queensland.
In the last 10 years, he has led the design and development of four Australian Government National Health Strategies for a wide range of health areas including asthma, congenital heart disease, lung disease and silicosis prevention. He has also led national strategies / blueprints for action in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
Mark is passionate about the role profit for purpose organisations play in the health sector, especially empowering patients to be their own advocates and aligning research with consumer-centred outcomes.
At the centre of each of these national plans is patient empowerment. He is highly sought after as a speaker on profit for purpose leadership and consumer advocacy.
You can find out more about Lung Foundation Australia here.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program – launched 1 July 2025. Find out more about the program here.
Find out more about Heart of Australia Lunch Cancer Screening Program here.
To find out more about ADDRI, visit our website.
Thank you to our Podcast Interviewer and host James O’Loghlin and Producer Rod Morri from Sydney Podcast Studios.
If you have any questions or comments, please email info@addri.org.au.
