The Australian Cancer Plan (the Plan) is a 10-year reform agenda for the whole Australian cancer community. Implementation of an ambitious national framework such as this requires leadership and collaboration across the entire cancer control sector. The Australian Government has committed to taking action for delivery of the 10-year Plan. Early implementation priorities will be focused on:
Cancer Australia invites partners from across the cancer control sector to consider their contribution to this national reform agenda and to commit to actions to assist in the delivery of the Plan’s goals. Potential leadership roles and responsibilities will involve a wide range of partners, including:
To support the involvement of partners in implementation of the Plan, Cancer Australia will:
Implementation detail will continue to evolve in a range of contexts over the 10-year life of the Plan.
Cancer Australia will report on the Australian Cancer Plan’s implementation progress against shared measures of success. This website will be updated to capture progress over the life of the Plan.
The Australian Cancer Plan will be reviewed after the 2-year and 5-year marks against the 2‑ and 5-year goals and actions for each Strategic Objective. Following these reviews, further actions for Strategic Objectives may be considered to ensure the Plan is on track to meet its 10-year ambitions.
A Monitoring and Evaluation framework aligned with the Implementation Plan has been developed and will be supported by:
The Australian Government has committed to improving cancer outcomes for all Australians and to supporting implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan, starting in 2023. The Australian Government’s responsibilities will include leading the development of new strategies and policies requiring national leadership, as well as prioritisation and reorientation of existing programs, where appropriate, to ensure they are closely aligned with the Plan. This includes through a partnership approach that embraces the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations—including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services—and communities.
Stakeholders are invited to consider how their activities contribute to implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan actions. Examples of the types of activities which will be needed for the implementation of each Action can be found in the Explanatory Text for each Strategic Objective section of the Australian Cancer Plan.
The initial Implementation Plan (below) indicates each 2- and 5-year action for which the Australian Government anticipates taking a leadership role. Details are provided for actions that are underway or will commence in 2023–24. All Australian Government implementation activities shown have been funded in the 2023–24 Budget or previous Budgets.
Stakeholders are invited to consider actions on which they would like to lead or partner. Cancer Australia will undertake a consultation process to further develop the Implementation Plan.
Funding to introduce a National Lung Cancer Screening Program by July 2025.
Funding to implement the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia, improve the current HPV vaccination rate, and increase cervical screening participation and access to screening services following introduction of self-collection.
Funding for public health campaigns on Vaping and Tobacco Controls to drive, support and sustain quit attempts by people who vape and/or smoke.
Implementing the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 including targets and funded campaigns to increase participation in breast, bowel, and cervical screening by 2025.
Funding the continuation of the Nursing in Primary Health Care (NiPHC) Program to increase the number of nurses engaged in primary health care settings, including promoting cancer prevention and early detection.
Funding to address inequities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by improving screening and prevention activities, coordination, access support and research and data collection.
Funding to develop and implement a communication campaign to support early intervention and prevention of chronic disease among CALD communities.
Funding for BreastScreen Australia to enable services to re‑engage women and catch up on delayed appointments due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding for the Liver Foundation, Head and Neck Cancer Australia, and Pancare Foundation to improve early detection of cancer via GP education platforms to increase awareness of cancer signs and symptoms.
Funding for vaping and smoking cessation activities and public health information campaigns.
Release of the new National Tobacco Strategy 2023–2030 and ongoing development of new national tobacco control legislation.
Funding to extend the Tackling Indigenous Smoking initiative to reduce vaping, as well as tobacco use, in First Nations communities.
Funding for a National Skin Cancer Prevention Campaign in partnership with Cancer Council Australia.
Cancer Australia will partner with research funders, including NHMRC and MRFF, to influence research priorities and coordinate investment.
A review of BreastScreen Australia to ensure that the program remains contemporary.
Funding to build the capacity and capability of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector to support cancer care needs on the ground.
Funding to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people.
Funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-design of the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program.
Funding to introduce a National Lung Cancer Screening Program by July 2025.
Implementation of the findings of the BreastScreen Australia Review to ensure that the program remains contemporary.
Cancer Australia will lead development of a National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control.
Funding to implement a new Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program that covers all geographies and cancer types.
Funding to Pancare Foundation, Neuroendocrine Cancer Australia, and Head and Neck Cancer Australia to provide consumer education and awareness.
Funding to Breast Cancer Network Australia for patient and consumer activities to improve health literacy.
Funding for a communications campaign for the new Self-collection for Cervical Screening program, focusing on CALD communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Funding to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people.
Funding to promote mainstream cancer care services to be culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people.
Funding to implement a new Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program that covers all geographies and cancer types.
Cancer Australia will lead development of a national framework for Optimal Care Pathways.
Cancer Australia will lead the development of an Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN).
Funding to support the establishment of Comprehensive Cancer Centres in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Cancer Australia will develop proof-of-concept models and clinical guidance for pancreatic cancer and promulgate as relevant to other cancers.
Funding of subsidies for the costs of storage for future use of eggs, sperm or embryos for Australians with cancer.
Funding for a new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item for the insertion of a breast marker clip during a breast biopsy to support best practice treatment of breast cancer.
Funding to introduce a new MBS item for an EndoPredict gene expression profiling test to determine a patient’s risk of recurrent breast cancer after treatment.
Funding to change PBS medicines supply to 60 days which will save breast cancer patients up to $180 per year for each medicine.
Funding to implement the National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Australia to improve treatment pathways and data, particularly through reaching priority populations.
Cancer Australia will facilitate an agreed national data framework.
Cancer Australia will partner with research funders, including NHMRC and MRFF, to influence research priorities and coordinate investment.
Funding for a new Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program to include a single entry point via phone and digital platforms to connect patients with a multidisciplinary telehealth team.
Funding to undertake a comprehensive review of current models of primary care, to inform policy changes that enable expansion of scopes of practice.
Funding the continuation of the Nursing in Primary Health Care (NiPHC) Program to increase the delivery of multi-disciplinary nurse-led care in primary health care settings.
Funding via a new grants program to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people.
Funding to build the workforce capacity and capability of the ACCHS sector.
Cancer Australia will scope an approach to build a pipeline of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer clinicians.
Funding to increase the number of nurses in primary care.
Funding to undertake a scope of practice review to examine current models of care against community needs.
Funding to undertake a scope of practice review to examine current models of care against community needs.
Funding to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people and that there is coordinated delivery of cancer care in partnership with the ACCHS sector.
Funding to support the ACCHS sector to respond to and support cancer care needs on the ground, tailored to local needs and priorities.
Funding to support co-design of the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program with First Nations communities.
Funding to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people and that there is coordinated delivery of cancer care in partnership with the ACCHS sector.
Funding to support the ACCHS sector to grow their capability and capacity to support cancer care needs on the ground.