VCCC Annual Report 2019-20
The VCCC Annual Report 2019-20 highlights the breadth, diversity, and significance of the alliance's work, the potential for future growth, and the impact on the Victorian community.
The VCCC has partnered with Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer consortium on a joint initiative to support clinicians and health care services treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery phase.
The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN) provides a variety of resources and opportunities to get involved, learn and contribute.
There are two ways to get involved:
Subscribe to receive the VCCN newsletter with latest news, developments and changes to cancer care in Victoria, online events and seminars.
Become a VCCN Member: Health care workers can become a member of the VCCN and participate in online conversations and knowledge sharing via the VCCN Slack workspace. Members must agree to the terms and conditions to join.
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.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) has welcomed the 2020-21 Victorian Budget, which includes $33.1 million for the alliance to continue its work to improve cancer outcomes across the state.
This new funding will support projects that focus on the limited treatment options for low survival cancers (such as lung cancer, which has a 14 per cent five-year survival rate, and pancreatic cancer, which has just four per cent five-year survival), and increase access to personalised medicine through the expansion of genomic testing and precision oncology.
Catch up on cancer has begun
The recent drop in active COVID-19 cases in Melbourne is fantastic news, particularly for the respite it gives for those at the forefront of the pandemic response. I really want to acknowledge our partnership with MPCCC and a magnificent team of cancer specialists, administrators, patients, patient advocates, academics and government representatives who generously gave their time and expertise to the VCCN Taskforce and Network during the challenges of the past few months.
A recent VCCC study may be the first of its kind to meaningfully involve cancer consumers in the identification of PRO system requirements, a key first step in the road to PRO implementation in routine clinical care.
Members of the VCCC Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC) assisted the project team from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Western Health to uncover critical insights into potential PRO system requirements.
Effective communication can make all the difference. Sometimes it is the simplest things – the right word of reassurance at the right time, or having your partner actively included in a care conversation can be highly effective ways to build and enhance the doctor-patient therapeutic relationship. Many clinicians do this incredibly well but there is always room for improvement.
Experts from the VCCC have designed a new online education program for clinical staff to practice and refine their patient communication skills.
Did you know that in the United States, you can purchase Digital Doctor Gift Certificates? They can be bought in different dollar amounts, like a JB Hi-Fi or Bunnings gift card, only you exchange them for a video chat with a doctor via phone, tablet, or personal computer.
Data suggests that mothers are the biggest users of telemedicine in the US because they say it enables them to get the care they need quickly and efficiently.
Clinical Trial Workforce new online modules
The Australian clinical trials industry is growing exponentially, particularly in Victoria – with that growth comes a greater need for skilled professionals to move into key roles. Who works in clinical trials, and how can people establish a career in this progressive area?
The VCCC has recently released a series of freely available Clinical Trial Workforce online modules, each providing information, resources and scenarios explaining the key fundamental activities of clinical trials.
Getting the best value for our cancer patients
The VCCC is delighted to host cancer expert Professor Christobel Saunders AO who is internationally recognised as one of Australia’s most prominent research-orientated cancer surgeons. Professor Saunders will navigate participants through the value-based system approach to service, delivery, payment, and policy to improve the lives of those diagnosed with cancer.
In Australia over 6,000 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer each year. General practice plays significant role in prevention, screening, follow-up after treatment and palliative care. This webinar reviews the scope to expand the role of general practice in collaboration with cancer specialists and is aimed at primary care practitioners and their team.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) alliance will host the second annual VCCC Consumer Engagement Forum on Wednesday 9 December.
Consumers play an important role in assisting researchers, clinicians and educators to better understand the lived experience of cancer. From involvement in research to guiding decision-making, consumer perspectives provide a unique source of knowledge.
Enrol now to commence study in January 2021. The Master of Cancer Sciences is one of the world's most innovative online learning programs, taught by leading global cancer experts across multiple disciplines from VCCC alliance organisations and the University of Melbourne. Learn to connect the latest evidence-based theory to practical skills that improve the clinical care of patients with cancer.
Specialist Certificate, Graduate Certificate and Master pathways are offered.
The flexible program is designed to be of interest to PhD students with either a scientific or clinical background, including medical graduates, nursing and allied health specialists.