| University of Wollongong student Laura Andon, who is featured in a na... University of Wollongong student Laura Andon, who is featured in a national advertising campaign urging young women to be vaccinated against cervical cancer. | 
| One of the billboards featuring UOW student Laura Andon. One of the billboards featuring UOW student Laura Andon. |
Laura’s taking vaccination message to the streets
20 Jul 2007 | Nick Hartgerink
University of Wollongong student Laura Andon is spearheading the national campaign to promote a new cervical cancer vaccine among women in the 18-26 age group.
The 3rd year Bachelor of Education in Physical and Health Education student, from the Sutherland Shire is a national ambassador for the vaccine program. Laura, along with Olympic swimming gold medallist Giaan Rooney, is the face of the promotional campaign to encourage women to have the vaccine.
Laura has already been interviewed on television programs, radio, and magazines, and is being featured on billboards and posters around Australia.
Twenty-two-year-old Laura, who combines her studies with modelling and a budding career as a professional surfer, describes the cervical cancer campaign as the perfect opportunity to promote something she is passionate about – women’s health.
“The i-did ambassador’s role is a great opportunity to encourage women to recognise the importance of taking care of their own health,” Laura said. “The new vaccine has been introduced in schools, and is now free to all women aged 18 to 26 through their GPs.”
The new vaccine is designed to trigger the formation of antibodies to produce immunity to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer remains a big problem in Australia, despite the success of pap smears in early detection of the disease.
Laura said with more than 40 Australian women testing positive for pre-cancerous growths in their cervix every day, it was important that the message about the vaccine be circulated as widely as possible.
The former Kirrawee High School student has been busy since finishing her HSC in 2002. In the first year after school she completed a Diploma in Sports Development, and enjoyed it so much that she enrolled in the Physical Health Education degree at UOW.
Her surfing ability earned her sponsorship from Billabong, and as of August she will join former world champion surfer Barton Lynch to further her surfing career at Total Spawtz, an academy for professional athletes.
Laura’s modelling career has already seen her became the “face” of designer swimwear MaraJoara, exclusive model for Amy New collection, and a finalist in the Miss World Australia competition.
Laura says her life is “pretty full-on” at the moment as she juggles her ambassador’s role, studies, modelling commitments and surfing, but a priority is to complete her UOW degree.
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