As we welcome Professor Sanchia Aranda AM as the third Chair of the VCCC Alliance, we wanted to find out why she took the role and what she is most excited about. Here's what she had to say.
The VCCC Alliance is a critical opportunity to bring greater levels of collaboration across Victoria and through this, achieve improved cancer outcomes, especially for those who are most disadvantaged. My background across the spectrum of cancer control aligns well with the VCCC Alliance strategic agenda providing an opportunity for me to support the leadership team and our members to achieve our strategic objectives.
The focus on equity is the main thing that excites me. While new knowledge is important, the reality is we can substantially improve outcomes right now by systematically applying what is already known and ensuring no one is left behind. While the actions to improve treatment and care outcomes sit predominantly with our clinical members, the VCCC Alliance has a role in ensuring the evidence is examined in our local context and we equip our partners with the tools they need to make a difference.
I am delighted by the widening engagement of regional and rural health services in the alliance, and I would really like to see us make the most of this opportunity. I am also excited by the opportunities afforded by new directions flagged by Minister Butler regarding potential of scope of practice initiatives for nurses and allied health practitioners as we seek to ensure we make the best use of the limited resources we have available.
I am also very keen for us to improve our focus on the role of primary care. Much of the variation in cancer outcomes relate to stage at diagnosis and enhancing the capacity of primary care to achieve earlier diagnosis is a real opportunity for us.
Our agenda to really bring a consumer voice to this work also is a passion of mine and I look forward to our efforts to really hear the voices of the most marginalised Victorians about how we can best ensure they have access to the best cancer treatment and care we have available.
A highlight of the VCCC Alliance is the partnerships that exist between our members, without them the Alliance is nothing. I look forward to working with our current partners, and those yet to come, to really make Victoria the best place in the world to receive cancer treatment and care.
The VCCC Alliance is well poised for its next phase, and I thank our outgoing Chair, Emeritus Professor Linda Kristjanson AO, for her wonderful contribution. I look forward to working in partnership with the Board, our Executive Director, Professor Grant McArthur AO, and the team in building on your contribution.
