By WEINA HA
A regional educational initiative first piloted by the VCCC Alliance in Victoria will now be rolled out nationally, with financial support from the Federal government.
The alliance has been awarded $962,276 from the Australian Government’s Cancer Patient Support Program grants to help drive improvements in regional cancer care, as part of a national regional workforce educational strategy.
First piloted in Victoria via the alliance’s Regional Cancer Partnership Forums, the program will deliver evidence-based resources for regional healthcare professionals including medical specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, researchers, educators, other generalist and specialist health professionals, and consumer advocates.
A comprehensive development process including surveys, interviews and consultations will ensure the content is tailored to identified needs of each regional area.
Bi-monthly regional forums will be hosted by rotating interstate regional health services, showcasing regional expertise, consumer perspectives, culturally appropriate practice, case studies, live Q&A, patient support materials, and additional resources.
An 'Author in the Room' journal club with peer-reviewed articles will follow forum topics, reflecting international best practice, led by regional hosts and paper authors. A digital resource hub will feature past recordings, additional resources, and patient information.
In addition, an online discussion forum will foster a community of practice among regional participants. The University of Melbourne’s Evaluation and Implementation Science Unit will support the evaluation of the program.
National interest for involvement has been garnered from key opinion leaders in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. Leveraging online platforms, the project expands accessibility and outreach, facilitates agile knowledge exchange, enhances skills, fosters connections, and encourages collaboration. All activities will be aligned to the Australian Cancer Plan and the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan.
The program will run until 30 June 2027. It will be implemented by a dedicated project team, supported by the VCCC Alliance.
“Improving cancer outcomes across Australia requires a collaborative effort,” says Dr Samuel Harris, Regional Research and Education Lead at VCCC Alliance. “We are proud to be working closely with regional health services and cancer care centres interstate, bringing together knowledge and research to address disparities in cancer care between urban and regional areas.”
