Overview
Active involvement of consumers in the planning and establishment of the Cancer Service Networks (CanNETs) across Australia is pivotal to the success of this program.
In addition to consumers being involved at a national level, each of the seven project teams has recruited consumers to guide the development of their local cancer service networks. This strategy will help ensure that health care providers are focused on addressing the needs of people affected by cancer, particularly those in rural areas.
The development of a consumer participation strategy for CanNET Victoria Final Report, for example, presents the findings from a series of group meetings and individual interviews with a total of 128 people affected by cancer.
The CanNET Victoria Consumer Participation Strategy newsletters can be accessed from: http://www.nemics.org.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2731
Consumer involvement is a key element of cancer service network development. The following resources can be used to guide this work.
CanNET Consumer Survey
Cancer Australia has commissioned a ‘national assessment of cancer care to determine the perceptions and experiences of people affected by cancer’ (CanNET Consumer Survey). This includes both those living with cancer, and those who care for those living with cancer. The CanNET Consumer Survey will play a central role in Cancer Australia’s consumer engagement strategy.
The primary objectives of the survey are to:
Gain baseline information about the current strengths and gaps in cancer care delivery across Australia from a consumer perspective; and
Provide information to the cancer care sector to support the development of strategies to strengthen the delivery of cancer care to the Australian community.
The project has two key phases: