Contact your local MP or Senator!
Letting your local MP or Senator know about the issues and challenges you face and why you believe they need to do more for people living with or beyond bowel cancer, is one of the best ways you can advocate for change.
As your local Federal, State or Territory Member of Parliament, it is their job to listen and represent you!
If you believe more should be done to expand screening, improve access to timely colonoscopy, or increase the number of effective treatments options available to bowel cancer patients, let your MP and Senator know.
Write them a personal letter or send them an email telling them about your needs.
Highlight what matters most to you and explain why.
Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered.
Include your name and address - so they can respond to you. They will generally pay more attention if they know you live in their electorate and state or territory.
Keep it brief - start by telling them why you are writing (e.g., I am writing to you because). Keep your letter short, two pages is good, one page is better.
Personalise your letter/email - use your own words, tell your personal story about how bowel cancer affects you and your family. Every lived experience is unique and powerful.
Be clear about what you want them to do - focus on what action you want them to take (e.g., support access to Bowel Care Nurses for people living with or beyond bowel cancer; increase the amount invested in bowel cancer research, etc.). Include an advocacy priority of importance to you. If the person you are writing to is on the backbench, ask them to raise the issue with the Minister or the Shadow Minister.
Ask to meet them - nothing is more impactful than hearing first-hand about the issues you face.
Ask for a response - although you may only receive a standard response to your letter/email, at least you will know it has been read. The more letters like yours MPs and Senators receive, the more likely they will be to act.
Avoid a negative tone - don't be overly critical and, of course, be polite in your language. Be positive in the way that you ask for something (e.g., access to Bowel Care Nurses will provide patients with much needed support throughout their treatment and care and help improve quality of life).
Share your advocacy efforts with your family and friends - so they can write to their local MP - the more letters MPs and Senators receive, the more likely they are to recognise that an issue needs to be addressed.
Become a Champion for Change
Sign up to join Bowel Cancer Australia’s nationwide network of committed advocates and we’ll provide additional tips, resources and templates to assist with your advocacy efforts and contacting your local MP and/or Senator.
Don’t just imagine a world without bowel cancer. Help make it a reality.
If not you, then who?
Keep us posted!
Please send a copy of your email, letter or any response you receive from your local MP or Senator to advocacy@bowelcanceraustralia.org. We look forward to working together as we progress our advocacy agenda.
Federal Minister & Shadow Minister
The Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care is responsible for national health and wellbeing and medical research. The Minister of Health provides direction and oversight of the Department of Health, which is responsible for delivering an affordable, quality health and aged care system and better health, ageing and sport outcomes for all Australians.
The Australian Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing is responsible for closely examining the work of the government, the Health Department and the Minister of Health. They also put forward and explain opposition policies.
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
Shadow Minister for Health & Aged Care
Liberal Party of Australia
Federal MPs & Senators
There are currently 151 members of the House of Representatives, each representing one geographic area of Australia known as an electorate. Members are elected for a three-year term and when in parliament take part in debate on proposed laws and public policy, representing the views of the people in their electorate.
A senator is a member of the Australian Senate, elected to represent a state or territory. There are 76 senators, twelve from each state and two each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Enter your postcode and click search to locate your local MP and Senator.
State & Territory MPs
Australia has a federal system of government with a national parliament and legislative assemblies and councils (parliaments) in each state and territory. Each state except Queensland has a lower house called the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly, and an upper house called the Legislative Council. The parliaments of Queensland and the two territories only have a Legislative Assembly.
Select your state or territory. Click on the Members link to find contact information for your local MP.
