About 30% of the Australian population is born overseas. These people are from various cultural, religious, racial and linguistic backgrounds and represent various socioeconomic statuses and English proficiency. Migrants have the right to have access to health services and information to be able to protect their health.

Different factors can affect people’s decisions to participate in a cancer screening program. Migration status is one of the factors that can affect participation in cancer screening programs. Studies reported that people from non-English speaking backgrounds in Australia have lower than average rates of participation in cancer screening programs.

To improve health equity, all members of society must have the opportunity to participate in cancer screening programs. Many studies have explored the factors associated with lower participation rate among migrants in cancer screening programs in Australia and lack of knowledge about programs was one of the factors affecting participation rate. To improve migrants’ participation rates in cancer screening programs, specific educational programs must be implemented for different groups of migrants. To design effective and efficient educational programs migrants’ information needs about cancer screening programs, their preferred methods of receiving information and their capacity to access currently available information and participate in screening programs need to be understood.