Join us for the third installment of the national Regional Cancer Forum webinar series, where we explore the vital role of consumer advocates in rural, regional, and remote cancer care. This session will bring together key voices in the consumer advocacy space to discuss how rural clinicians and communities can support and partner with lived experience advocates across cancer care, research and education in Australia.
Topics covered will include:
This interactive webinar will follow a structured Q&A format. You're invited to submit questions for our panel ahead of time by emailing: [email protected]
This series has been made possible by the Cancer Patient Support Program, an Australian Government initiative. Supported by grant funding from the Federal Government, the forums aim to address the educational needs of Australia's regional and rural cancer workforce by facilitating reciprocal learning between regional and metropolitan cancer colleagues.
This is an inclusive event that recognises the expertise of the cancer workforce in regional, rural and metropolitan areas. All workers are invited to participate in education and learning that will enable a collective effort to lift cancer outcomes in regional and rural communities.
This initiative recognises the imperative that we all must work together towards equitable cancer care. An individual’s postcode shouldn’t influence their outcomes.
Anne is a senior consumer representative on health and research committees and was appointed to the Order of Australia for 20 years of service in the area of health consumer advocacy. In 2021, Anne received the NHMRC Biennial Award for Consumer Engagement Award.
Kathleen has been actively involved in cancer consumer committees and steering groups for many years, first with the VCCC Alliance, and now with Every VoiceCAN, a consumer advisory network for the ReViTALISE project. Kathleen founded Every Voice Consumer Advisory Network (Every VoiceCAN) to facilitate information sessions and empower consumers to actively share their experiences and ideas with ReViTALISE initiatives, working closely to with Regional Trials Network - Victoria.
With a PhD in Health Professions Education focused on interprofessional communication in rehabilitation, Julia’s work aims to advance collaborative care and interprofessional education. She is passionate about the intersection of education, communication, and patient care, and seeks to enhance team dynamics while ensuring patients remain at the centre of healthcare transformation. Her research spans interprofessional communication, teamwork, and consumer engagement, with a focus on qualitative research and participatory approaches that drive practical, impactful changes in healthcare delivery and education.
Jo is an original member of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC) and currently Deputy Chair. She was a member of the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre Consumer Advisory Committee for seven years, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) Consumer Advisory Panel for four years, and a current member of the WEHI Consumer Research Program.
Jo has worked as the Hunter Breast Cancer Education Officer for Breast Cancer Trials in Newcastle, where she also trained as a Genetic Counsellor with Hunter Genetics. Jo is passionate about supporting cancer research and equitable cancer care, following her own lived experience both as a carer and patient. She strongly believes that consumers can provide valuable input into decisions about cancer research, policies and practice and can play an important role in improving cancer health outcomes for all.
Dr Deveny is an experienced and well-respected director and executive with a strong commitment to providing sustainable health outcomes for all Australians. She also has a demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive, productive partnerships with key stakeholders and the broader community.
Dr Deveny is currently the CEO of Consumers Health Forum of Australia, the national independent peak body for health consumers. Her recent roles include CEO of South Eastern Melbourne PHN, CEO of Bayside Medical Local and Chair of Southern Metropolitan Partnership. She holds a Masters in vocational health education and a PhD in Medicine (clinical decision support development), both from Melbourne University.
Melissa has lived with melanoma for over a decade, fortunate to ride the wave of new treatments including targeted cell therapy and immunotherapy. Her experiences, collaborating with researchers, healthcare professionals, support networks and consumers have given her valuable insights. She is a living example of the power of science, research, education, and the multidisciplinary approach needed to treat cancer. Passionate about equitable healthcare for all, she shares her story, hoping to improve outcomes for other patients.
