Role and functions

The Australian Government, through Cancer Australia, aims to provide national leadership in cancer control to improve patient outcomes and enhance health service delivery; guide improvements across the continuum of cancer care and coordinate and liaise with a wide range of health care providers and groups in cancer care. Cancer Australia will also oversee a dedicated budget for cancer research; and provide policy advice and make recommendations on cancer policy and priorities to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

Cancer Australia will achieve this aim through engagement with consumers and other key stakeholders in cancer control and the development of effective partnerships for the delivery of improved cancer care. This approach to cancer control will be supported by up-to-date and evidence-based information to improve knowledge about cancer.

Cancer Australia also aims to reduce the impact of cancer through improvements in both the quality of cancer care received by people and their quality of life after diagnosis. To achieve this, Cancer Australia translates worldwide research into evidence-based information to guide the work of health professionals in Australia and develops innovative models of care to improve health service delivery. In addition, Cancer Australia will: strengthen national data capacity; fund research in priority areas; assist in the implementation of policies and programs in cancer control; inform people with cancer about their diagnosis and treatment; and raise community awareness about the disease.

The Australian Government has provided funds to Cancer Australia to deliver in breast cancer, gynaecological cancers and lung cancer.

Cancer Australia Legislation and Governance

Cancer Australia was established to benefit all Australians who are affected by cancer, and their families and carers.
Cancer Australia is a statutory agency within the Health and Ageing portfolio.  It was established under the Cancer Australia Act 2006, and is a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.  Cancer Australia is also subject to the Auditor-General Act 1997.  Cancer Australia staff are employees of the Australian Public Service under the Public Service Act 1999.

The Chief Executive reports to the Minister for Health and Ageing and the agency has a Cancer Australia Advisory Council appointed by the Minister. The Advisory Council provides advice to the Chief Executive Officer about the performance of Cancer Australia's functions.

Cancer Australia’s governance and functions are primarily determined by the Cancer Australia Act 2006, the Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

The Cancer Australia Act 2006 (Part 2, Section 7) specifies the following functions for Cancer Australia:

1. To provide national leadership in cancer control.
2. To guide scientific improvements to cancer prevention, treatment and care.
3. To coordinate and liaise between the wide range of groups and health care providers with an interest in cancer.
4. To make recommendations to the Commonwealth Government about cancer priorities.
5. To oversee a dedicated budget for research into cancer.
6. To assist with the implementation of Commonwealth Government policies and programs in cancer control.
7. To provide financial assistance, out of money appropriated by the Parliament, for research mentioned in paragraph (5) and for the implementation of policies and programs mentioned in paragraph (6).
8. Any functions that the Minister, by writing, directs Cancer Australia to perform.

Priority areas

Cancer Australia’s priority areas of work include:

• provide leadership in health service delivery and health system reform through the translation of worldwide research into evidence-based information to guide the work of health professionals in Australia and the development of innovative models of care to improve health service delivery, 
• manage cancer research funding program in identified priority areas,
• support collaborative cancer clinical trials,
• strengthened national data capacity,
• encourage clinical best practice, with a focus on breast, lung and gynaecological cancers,
• raise community awareness about cancer,
• inform people with cancer about their diagnosis and treatment, and
• improved support networks for people affected by cancer.