The development of Australia's first national Cancer Plan is a major milestone in cancer control. Created in collaboration with the Australian cancer sector, the Plan serves as a blueprint for advancing our world-renowned cancer system, with a focus on improving outcomes for all Australians affected by cancer in the next ten years and beyond. The Plan was delivered to the Minister for Health and Aged Care in April 2023.
Using the 50th year of the COSA Annual Scientific Meeting as a springboard, Cancer Australia will outline changes we can look forward to seeing in the cancer sector leading up to COSA’s 60th. The Plan marks a new era in cancer care in Australia, where equitable and optimal care is within reach for everyone.
In this interactive plenary session, the spotlight will be on the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan, which demands coordinated leadership and partnerships across the entire cancer control system, including government bodies, non-government organisations, and the health and research sectors. Led by Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia, a panel of cancer control experts will delve into the priority actions already underway by the Australian Government, including the development of a national comprehensive data framework, activation of Optimal Care Pathways, research design, and service delivery, a workforce pipeline for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer clinicians, establishment of an Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network, and a national framework for genomics in cancer control.
The plenary will also explore the lines of effort required by the cancer control community to achieve other priority actions outlined in the Plan. Delegates will have an opportunity to pose questions and contribute key national policy initiatives or scalable programs that will support the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan.
Panellists:
Professor Tanya Buchanan, CEO, Cancer Council Australia
Professor Tom Calma AO, National Coordinator, Tackling Indigenous Smoking
Professor Shelley Dolan, CEO, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Lillian Leigh, Consumer
Tania Rishniw, Deputy Secretary, Primary and Community Care, Department of Health and Aged Care