Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program and cancer support organisations

Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program

The Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program (ACNNP) aims to ensure all people with cancer have access to high quality and culturally safe care for all cancer types across the country.

Since November 2023, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing have committed $406 million to establish and deliver a new Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program.

The program is free to access and helps guide families, friends, and carers to support patients to navigate the health system.

The program has multiple components including:

Cancer Care Nursing Services
Cancer Navigation Services
Specialist Support Services.

Cancer care nurse service

The McGrath Foundation is leading delivery of a new Cancer Care Nurse Service. The service is delivering around 350 Commonwealth-funded cancer care nurses in health and hospital services across Australia by the end of 2031-32. This is in addition to the existing Commonwealth-funded prostate cancer nurses that the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) deliver.

This model aims to ensure those without access to disease-specific nurses can still obtain the care and support they need, with nurses being trained with the skills and knowledge to work across multiple cancer types. 

The Cancer Navigation Service

Cancer Council Australia is leading delivery of a Cancer Navigation Service. The navigation service connects people to information and support for any cancer, depending on their needs. This may include referrals to multidisciplinary specialist support service teams and other appropriate supports. The navigation service includes improvements to Cancer Council Australia’s 13 11 20 phone line and digital offerings. The navigation service supports patients, families, carers, and friends.

Canteen is also collaborating with Camp Quality and Redkite to deliver cancer navigation and counselling services through the Cancer Hub. The Cancer Hub supports families with children or young people aged 0-25 who are impacted by cancer. 

Specialist support services

The Department is funding 12 Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to deliver disease-specific support services. Specialist Support Services provide information, support and advice tailored to the unique needs of people with particular cancer types. Support is available to patients, families, carers, and friends. Health professionals may also access the service for disease-specific advice.

The 12 NGOs currently funded under the Specialist Support Service are:

For more information on the ACNNP, visit Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Cancer Support Organisations

There are many hundreds of consumer support and advocacy groups, and cancer charities across Australia. Here we provide links only to other national consumer organisations and the peak community-funded, not funded under the ACNNP. In most cases you can find links to state and territory or more special interest groups on their websites, provided below.

Cancer Councils

Community-funded Cancer Councils in each state and territory:

undertake and fund cancer research;
implement programs and campaigns to prevent and control cancer; and
provide information and support for people affected by cancer.

The national body, Cancer Council Australia, provides advice on practices and policies to help prevent, detect and treat cancer, and advocates for people affected by cancer for best treatment and supportive care.

Australia’s Cancer Councils are the recognised leaders in providing support and other resources for people affected by cancer. Cancer Australia is working with Cancer Councils across Australia to build support networks. We are also working with the many other organisations that aim to address issues specific to people affected by different types of cancer to improve support options.

For more information about support options in your state or territory, visit the website of the relevant Cancer Council listed below or call the Cancer Council on 13 11 20 (a local call from anywhere in Australia).

Camp Quality

Camp Quality provides children and young adolescents (0-15 years) with cancer and their families with fun experiences, trusted information, specialised care, coping tools and a supportive community. They also provide support to children when a family member of theirs has been diagnosed with cancer.

Can Assist

Can Assist is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of where they live in NSW, have access to cancer treatment and care. By providing accommodation, financial assistance and practical support to people from rural, regional and remote areas of New South Wales, we ensure that country people are given the same opportunities and treatment choices as those who live in city centres.

Cancer Voices Australia

Cancer Voices Australia is a national consumer advocacy organisation representing Australians affected by cancer. It aims to ensure the voices of people, their carers and families affected by cancer are heard at a national level. There are also Cancer Voices organisations in most states and territories.

Canteen

Canteen supports young people (aged 12-25) who are dealing with their own diagnosis, a close family member's cancer or the death of a loved one. The organisation provides access to life-saving treatment, specialised counselling and programs where young people can connect with others in similar situations.

CarerHelp

CarerHelp supports carers to prepare, plan and cope with caring for a person with terminal illness and at the end of life.

Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Australia

Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Australia is a patient-led cancer, genomic, and advocacy research organisation that aims to empower and increase survival of patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.

Inherited Cancers Australia

Inherited Cancers Australia empowers people with information and understanding of inherited cancer to help them manage their cancer risk. They provide a supportive community for people to share their lived experience. They fight inherited cancer with knowledge, transparency, community and hope.

Lymphoma Australia

Lymphoma Australia is a not-for-profit charity in Australia dedicated to people affected by lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Myeloma Foundation Australia

The Myeloma Foundation of Australia provides information and support to people affected by myeloma.

National Breast Cancer Foundation

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) funds all forms of research into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer Alliance

The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance is a collaborative voice raising awareness of pancreatic cancer in Australia. Cancer Australia is a Member of the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, other members include:

Redkite

Redkite provides financial assistance, emotional support and educational assistance to children with cancer and their families. It also has scholarships available for specific educational goals.