While Victoria’s Parliament House is rarely a hub of political harmony, the VCCC Alliance’s ‘Spotlight on Cancer in Victoria’ exhibition last week was a powerful exception. Unity was the defining theme at Queen’s Hall during the two-day event, as MPs from both sides of the house, met with the VCCC Alliance, its member organisations, and lived experience leaders.
This shared commitment highlighted a vital truth: cancer does not respect political boundaries, and tackling it requires a collective front. The VCCC Alliance used the high-visibility platform to ask for commitment from all political parties to deliver much-needed reform, as we lead up to the State Election in November.
The ask is simple – our state needs a cancer system that works for every Victorian, so no one gets left behind. Gaps must be fixed and the system more connected to enable better outcomes for Victorians impacted by the disease. Cross-party backing is now more urgent than ever, with data from the Victorian Cancer Registry showing annual cancer diagnoses in Victoria will rise from 40,000 to 60,000 in little more than a decade.
Incoming CEO Professor David Ashley stated that with increasing pressure on the system, "there is a risk ... that we will see people falling off and not getting a fair go in their cancer care journeys".
The exhibition successfully showcased how co-ordinated care, research breakthroughs, and unified clinical networks directly improve early diagnosis and long-term survival rates. The event also served a deeper purpose by addressing the significant health disparities that persist across our state.
These challenges were grounded by lived experience leaders, including Seamus Flagg from Romsey, VIctoria. Diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma just before his twelfth birthday, Seamus underwent an intensive year of treatment. Fourteen years later, his presence at Queen’s Hall reinforced a clear message: geographic location must not dictate a patient's health outcome.
Lived experience leaders from Victoria actively supported the exhibition. Many invited their local members of parliament to meet at Queen's Hall, resulting in valuable discussions with constituents, alliance members, and sector partners.
Currently, regional, Aboriginal, and disadvantaged Victorians face much poorer health outcomes and greater barriers to timely treatment. For regional families, managing a diagnosis still frequently involves long-distance travel and severe disruptions to family life. To close this gap and ensure consistent care across Victoria, sector leaders used the event to highlight that not all Victorians are getting the essential care they need, when and where they need it.
Thank you to the VCCC Alliance member organisations and sector partners for driving this critical conversation. Your ongoing collaboration ensures that every Victorian gets a fair go in their cancer journey, no matter their postcode.
Looking ahead, the VCCC Alliance will maintain close engagement with parliamentarians to drive future progress. Through strategic briefings with multiple parties, the alliance will continue to push cancer care to the forefront of state policy.
