Overview

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring national cancer control prevention, treatment and care that are evidence-based. 

Cancer Australia is charged with providing national leadership in cancer control, and we do this by strengthening consumer participation in cancer control, building cancer research capacity, enhancing the education of cancer health professionals, improving access to cancer services and improving cancer data.

Cancer Australia is tasked with managing a number of programs under the Australian Government’s Strengthening Cancer Care initiative, and the establishment of the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers.  Since we began operating in October 2006, Cancer Australia has managed these programs and added value in significant ways to each of them, by:

·  creating the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme with community cancer organisations that fund research, to better coordinate research funding in Australia, encourage research collaborations and improve consumer involvement in research, adding an extra $5M in 2007 and $8M in 2008 to the available research funds;
·         building capacity of Australia’s multi-site, collaborative national cancer clinical trials groups, by supporting existing groups, establishing new groups where there is a need, and developing shared national infrastructure to support cancer clinical trials;
·         establishing the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers in consultation with key stakeholders, including the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, to improve awareness and outcomes for women affected by gynaecological cancers;
·         establishing the Cancer Service Networks National Demonstration Program (CanNET) – a partnership with governments in all states and the Northern Territory to improve access to best-practice treatment and support for people with cancer, wherever they live; 
·         involving consumers in all our advisory and reference groups, and forming a National Consumer Advisory Group, to ensure consumer interests are paramount in program development and planning;
·         consulting widely with stakeholders through establishing National Advisory Groups in key program areas;
·         developing specific initiatives to better engage primary care as a valid part of the cancer control team;
·         partnering with the Cancer Councils to support development of quality and sustainable support options for people affected by cancer; and
·         collaborating with governments, service providers, consumers and cancer data organisations to develop a National Cancer Data Strategy to address the gaps and issues with the collection and use of cancer data, so we can better evaluate and improve cancer outcomes.

In this section, read more about Cancer Australia’s:

• Role and functions, including the Strengthening Cancer Care initiatives for which we are responsible
• Priorities and programs
• Organisational structure and approach
• Funding including grants and tenders
• Publications and resources