Victoria can remove regional and metro equity gap

By MICHELLE HENDERSON

Victoria could be the first jurisdiction in the world to remove the gap in cancer outcomes between regional and metropolitan areas, Professor Grant McArthur AO told the VCCC Alliance 6th annual Consumer Engagement Forum.

The VCCC Alliance Chief Executive called on the Victorian cancer sector to aspire for equitable cancer outcomes across the state, at the first ever consumer engagement forum held in a regional area.

Regional Victorians are 10 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those living in major cities, and 16 per cent more likely to die, according to data from the Victorian Cancer Registry (2022).

“I actually think we can be the first jurisdiction in the world to remove the gap between metropolitan and regional,” Prof McArthur told the forum, held in Bendigo (and online) on Monday in partnership with Bendigo Health and Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Services (LMICS).

Prof McArthur said during his career, Victoria had moved from having only two oncologists in regional Victoria to having services right across the state.

Forum Chair, Melissa Le Mesurier said the care cancer patients receive should not depend on their postcode. “We need more people in the regions to be able to feel confident to come forward. There's a network of people who are working with their health service every day on all different aspects of research and treatments,” said Ms Le Mesurier, who also chairs the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee.

The forum showcased new equity activities underway, including with people from refugee backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, to help people navigate cancer services. The forum brought together people affected by cancer and those working in the cancer sector across Victoria to gather ideas about what types of action can be taken to promote equity.

Key highlights included:

• Uncle Gilbert Wanganeen and Kristy Puls, Echuca Regional Health shared the Wanyarra Mulana – One’s Personal Journey – cancer journal project. A collaboration between VACCHO and Echuca Regional Health, the pilot project developed a journal in consultation with Community. Some of the key themes to create a resource for Mob, by Mob; not to include the word ‘cancer’ in the title, avoid medical jargon, have the journal be small enough to fit into a bag to take to appointments, and include pockets to store business cards from different healthcare professionals.
• Bwe Ku Say from Bendigo Community Health Services raised issues specific to the Karen and Afghan communities in Bendigo, including the increase in late state cancer diagnoses. Bwe Ku Say shared how local services were supporting these communities to increase understanding and awareness about cancer, and reducing fear and uncertainty relating to cultural beliefs.
• Tanya Smith and Melissa Loorham, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, shared how a partnership with consumers was instrumental in creating a visual resource that has been viewed almost 1000 times since released this year. Tanya’s initial idea developed into broader consumer involvement that solidified a need to remove uncertainty for people navigating the Bendigo cancer services.

The participants participated in group discussions and interactive Q&As about small actions they could take to make a difference, and what changes they would like to see. A key theme was to practice active and intentional listening. It is about how to work together with consumers and community to find ways to remove the fear and uncertainty associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to all our speakers and panellists:

• Tanya Smith and Melissa Loorham , Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre;
• Bwe Ku Say and Lisa Carson , Bendigo Community Health Services, Echuca Regional Health.
• Uncle Gilbert Wanganeen and Kristy Puls, Echuca Regional Health;
• Prof Grant McArthur AO
• David Rosaia, Chief Operating Officer/Deputy CEO, Bendigo Health
• Cheryl Martin, Strategic Manager, LMICS
• Dr Sam Harris, Medical Oncologist, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, and Regional Oncology Lead at the VCCC Alliance