VCCC Annual Report 2018-19
This year's triumph has been bringing to life the innovative, game-changing programs that make up the VCCC Strategic Research Plan 2017-20.
The VCCC and MPCCC has developed a joint initiative to provide support and advice to clinicians and health care services treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network collaborates on a digital platform for professional discussion, information and support, as the pandemic progresses.
Events and seminars are now being conducted online where possible.
You can also catch up on previous seminars via the Open Learning platform.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
Keeping in touch with colleagues; to learn, network and understand first-hand what’s going on in the world is important to Australian health professionals.
Around 700 cancer health professionals have now subscribed to the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network, and dozens of activities are underway across the network’s 17 expert groups. This collegiate sharing – and support for others who may not be as well resourced, is providing a wonderful example of multi-level, multi-disciplinary support across the state and clearly demonstrates the shared experience of aligned groups in a dynamic environment.
Cancer clinical trials are experiencing a delivery revolution; adopting the teletrial model to implement trials across multiple sites.
Teletrials provide an opportunity to investigate rare cancers, widen patient recruitment and increase patient population diversity. Generally, they enable clinical trials to be opened at a primary clinical trial site in addition to singular or multiple satellite sites, including metro and regional locations.
A new social media campaign has been launched as part of a joint initiative from Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre alliance, Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium and Cancer Council Victoria.
The campaign was initiated from the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN), which has a dedicated Expert Group for Patient Information and Support, led by Danielle Spence, Head of Division Strategy and Support at CCV.
Consumers have a significant impact on VCCC projects and programs. In recognition, VCCC is introducing recompense in acknowledgement of consumer contribution and expertise.
The new VCCC cost model aligns with the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Appointment and Remuneration Guidelines (as specified by Safer Care Victoria), and corresponds with the five-tiered levels of consumer participation outlined in the organisation’s Model of Consumer Engagement.
SiteDocs has now been implemented into 17 clinical trial sites across Victoria. Clinical trial teams are supported and trained by two project officers from Cancer Trials Australia, Gabriella Martello and Abe Haddad.
Gabriella and Abe have produced a short, helpful video to provide best practice advice for managing investigator site files online.
2020 is Florence Nightingale’s bicentennial year, designated by the World Health Organisation as the first ever global Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
In this proposed year of acknowledgement and celebration, some nurses are being more challenged, are learning more, and are more publicly valued than ever. A demonstration of an investment in the nursing profession in Victoria is the thriving community of practice and research development incubator that is the VCCC Nurse-led Research Hub.
What does implementation and science mean in the studies of implementation science in oncology?
Implementation science, a close cousin to translational research, asks how we can get evidence into practice in a complex health and medical care system. All are welcome to hear from Professor Braithwaite from Macquarie University, who will discuss what is known about creating more evidence-oriented care, what implementation science means and some of the key tools and mechanisms.
The current COVID-19 pandemic raises critical clinical questions and challenges for health professionals seeking to continue optimal care for patients with cancer. Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) and the VCCC present our next special Cancer & COVID event.
A program of online research-based workshops is currently being offered for nurses who work in the cancer field. Increase your skills and build your confidence to undertake nurse-led research. A range of topics will be offered from experience-based co-design to practical skills such as writing for publication and communicating your research. See program and register to attend.
This ground-breaking opportunity requires an enthusiastic and suitably qualified Subject Development Coordinator to take overall responsibility for the design, implementation and delivery of the Cancer Prevention and Control subject in the Master of Cancer Sciences course.
The Master of Cancer Sciences is Australia’s first cancer specific, multidisciplinary, flexible, wholly online program; and one of only two such programs in the world. This course is being developed in partnership between the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre is calling for open entry positions on its working party for the Cancer Diagnostics subject within the Master of Cancer Sciences and its nested programming.
Working party membership is an honorary role that will involve providing knowledge and advice to guide the development of the subject.
We require a casual Research Project Supervisor in the Cancer Research Capstone subject to take responsibility for the supervision of multiple students within the Master of Cancer Sciences course.
The Research Project Supervisor will oversee: