Strategic Objective 1: Maximising cancer prevention and early detection
2-year goalAction 1.2.3
Promote translational research on the impact of social, cultural, commercial and environmental determinants of health on cancer outcomes for priority populations to inform policy and practice.
Social, cultural, commercial and environmental determinants of health have a significant impact on cancer outcomes for priority populations. Factors such as geographic location, language, cultural identity, education, and income will influence a consumer’s level of engagement with cancer prevention and early detection activities.
Links between these determinants and cancer experiences and outcomes need to be strongly demonstrated through research and evidence, for social policy to be accepted as core to cancer control. This action seeks to:
translate existing research on the impact of social, cultural, commercial, and environmental determinants on cancer outcomes for priority populations into policy and practice
shape the agenda for future cancer prevention research on the impact of social, cultural, commercial, and environmental determinants on cancer outcomes for priority populations
address the compounding impacts of intersectionality across social, cultural, commercial, and environmental determinants of health on cancer experiences and outcomes.
A considered cancer prevention research agenda should:
prioritise translation into policy and practice, with clear accountabilities
prioritise risks for population groups with poorer cancer outcomes
draw on expertise from national and international partnerships
take a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating evidence from non-health policy areas such as food security, education, employment, and urban planning
be designed in an inclusive, culturally safe, and responsive way.
Building a better understanding of the links between social, cultural, commercial, and environmental determinants of health and cancer experiences and outcomes will enable the identification of proven and effective strategies to overcome barriers to cancer prevention and strengthen the policy and regulatory environment.
Stakeholder Quotes
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“Investment in research should have much greater focus on building the evidence base for cancer prevention.”
— Public Consultation Submission
“Investment in research should have much greater focus on building the evidence base for cancer prevention.”
— Public Consultation Submission
“LGBTIQA+ groups have typically been invisible in much research and data. As they are generally not identified, they are not included in the evidence.”
— Targeted Engagement
Implementation Considerations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Adolescents and Young Adults
Children
People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds
People living with Disability
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) People
People in Lower Socioeconomic Groups
People Living with a Mental Illness
Older Australians
People Living in Rural and Remote Areas
Further Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research on the impact of positive determinants of health, such as connection to Country, benefits of self-determination, health literacy, and the role of community on cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Research on the impact of systemic racism, discrimination, and stigma on cancer outcomes.
Research to identify effective anti-racism strategies in health services.
Further Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research on the impact of positive determinants of health, such as connection to Country, benefits of self-determination, health literacy, and the role of community on cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Research on the impact of systemic racism, discrimination, and stigma on cancer outcomes.
Research to identify effective anti-racism strategies in health services.
Further research on the impact of early childhood environment, parental income, food security, housing stability, and access to early childhood healthcare practitioners on cancer outcomes for children.
Further research on the impact of determinants such as discrimination, stigma, economic and community participation on cancer outcomes for people living with disability.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) People
Improved collection of sexuality and gender-inclusive data in Australia to understand the impact of social, cultural, commercial, and environmental determinants on cancer outcomes for people in the LGBTIQA+ community.
Further research on the impact of accessibility, discrimination, family and community support, and comorbid conditions on cancer outcomes for older Australians.
Assess and address the impact of accessibility to healthcare, income, housing, and food security on cancer outcomes for individuals living in rural and remote areas.