Hear from Ms Siri Gunawardana and Dr Joyce Jiang as they share their knowledge on the challenges that underserved communities, such as refugees and migrants, face in obtaining timely cancer care and treatment. They will take you through real-world case studies on the success of health education programs for breast cancer and cervical cancer amongst underserved communities.
Siri and Joyce will delve into how else we can do better when serving these communities. The session will conclude with a Q&A session where attendees will have the opportunity to gain further insights and knowledge on this vital topic.
Both Natalie Maxwell-Davis and her husband have had cancer. The experience introduced them to genomic testing, clinical trials and immunotherapy. As a result of their shared experience, Natalie is committed to improving the experiences and outcomes for people affected by cancer. She believes that adopting a holistic, patient-centred approach is essential to achieving this. Natalie has extensive involvement as a consumer representative. In 2021, she joined Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC), assisting with the development of their strategic plan. She has worked with Cancer Council Victoria as a consumer advisor on a range of research projects, as a presenter at their International Women’s Day event, and is a founding member of the Consumer Reference Committee. Natalie was also involved in developing telehealth communication strategies with Safer Care Victoria. As a lawyer, she is focused on assisting vulnerable groups, including refugees and migrant workers, currently managing the modern slavery compliance program for Australian Red Cross.
Dr Joyce Jiang has a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a PhD in Family and Work Studies. She has over 20 years of international experience across diverse fields, having worked as a registered practitioner, manager, researcher and educator. Joining MCWH in 2013, Joyce oversees the success of health education programs and health promotion projects covering many issues, including sexual and reproductive health, gambling-related harm, and end-of-life caring. Joyce is passionate about population health, gender inequality, and public health policy, and speaks and writes Mandarin fluently.
Siri Gunawardana coordinates CEH’s practical and specialist training courses which specialise in language services, cultural competence, and health literacy. These are delivered in the traditional face-to-face method and more recently as an online service. Courses are informed by participants’ feedback and new developments in the field. Siri has over 15 years of experience in migrant and refugee settlement, training, and health promotion. She holds a Master's in Public Health, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development, and Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training.
