The Australian Government’s national cancer control agency, Cancer Australia, in partnership with Children’s Cancer CoLab, today announced the development of the first national Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for children with cancer at the Children’s Cancer CoLab Forum in Melbourne. The pathway will improve care and outcomes for children with cancer, better support families and carers and address a critical gap in Australia’s cancer system.
Children with cancer have distinct needs and require specialised support across the cancer care continuum. The new OCP will map best practice care from prevention and early detection through to treatment, supportive care, survivorship and end-of-life care. It will help promote consistent, high-quality, evidence-based care, while supporting families and carers to understand what optimal care should look like at each stage.
In 2025, an estimated 776 children aged 0 to 14 were diagnosed with cancer, and 92 died from the disease. The five-year survival rate for all cancers combined in people aged 0-19 in 2017-2021 was 87%. However, some childhood cancers, such as brain cancer, have a five‑year survival rate of 63%. A cancer diagnosis in childhood has broad and long‑term impacts for children and their families. More than 20,000 Australians living today are experiencing the long‑term effects of a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Cancer Australia and Children’s Cancer CoLab have co-invested in the development of the pathway and will work in collaboration with Victoria’s Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS) and the Australia and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) to ensure extensive consultation across the cancer sector. Contributors will include clinicians, researchers, health and community service providers, charitable organisations, advocates, and people with lived experience. Resources will also be developed in multiple languages to support accessibility for diverse communities.
Optimal Care Pathways are an important tool for reducing variation in care, improving equity and supporting consistent, person-centred cancer care. They help health services benchmark care, guide health professionals, and support people affected by cancer, their families and carers to understand and advocate for optimal care.
The new pathway is a priority under Cancer Australia’s National Optimal Care Pathways Framework, the newly released Children, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer (CAYA) Roadmap and aligns with the Australian Cancer Plan. It aims to progress health equity for children affected by cancer by the integration of OCP’s into routine care delivery.
Quotes attributable to Claire Howlett, Acting CEO, Cancer Australia
“Children with cancer are among the most vulnerable members of our community and deserve the very best care.”
“The OCP will outline optimal care for children with cancer, recognising the unique circumstances and needs of children, their families and carers.”
“Our work with the sector developing the CAYA Roadmap highlighted the need for an OCP for this priority population, and we are pleased to be progressing this initiative in partnership with Children’s Cancer CoLab and with the support and expertise of ANZCHOG and PICS.”
Quotes attributable to Dr Udani Reets, CEO, Children’s Cancer CoLab
“Partnering with Cancer Australia to deliver this pathway is exactly the kind of work that bridges the gap between what is evidence-based best practice and what families actually experience, particularly in supportive care and long-term survivorship.”
“For Australian families of children with cancer, particularly those in regional communities, this pathway will make a real difference. It means knowing what quality care should involve at every stage, and being able to ask for it, regardless of postcode.”
Media Contacts:
Susie Dobson
0438 209 833
Merrin Morrison
0400 829 601
Dr Udani Reets
0416 053 977
