The NSW Government has announced more than half a million dollars in funding to help improve outcomes for communities disproportionately impacted by cancer, through a national research collaboration.
The Australian Centre for Cancer Equity will receive $770,000 in funding, comprising:
- A $150,000 Strategic Program Grant via Cancer Institute NSW to support start up activity;
- $620,000 in grants to support clinical trial participation in CALD communities through the following projects:
- Trialtranslate – a multilingual chat bot codesigned with communities to transform complex documents into accessible information in multiple languages via a $260,000 grant over three years;
- Bridges – a community ambassador program providing a link between healthcare workers and CALD communities to enhance engagement in research via a $360,000 grant over three years.
The Centre, established in 2024, is a partnership between the NSW Government – via the South Western Sydney Local Health District and Cancer Institute NSW – and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.
Department of Medical Oncology Liverpool Hospital Director and AcCE lead Professor Wei Chua said access to equitable cancer care transcends a patient’s journey.
“It reflects our responsibility as a society to support the most vulnerable,” said Prof Chua.
“Medical information is complex, even for English-speaking patients. In culturally and linguistically diverse communities, language barriers and health literacy contribute to the complexity of navigating the healthcare system. Our role at the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity is to close the gaps using innovative approaches relevant to the communities.
“We want to increase participation in clinical trials from culturally and linguistically diverse communities so we can better address health disparities. Identifying enablers and barriers, and strategies to overcome them can lead to a better understanding to help in advancing therapeutic interventions.”
AcCE’s mission is to address and reduce disparity in cancer outcomes for Aboriginal people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, people living in regional and remote areas and socioeconomically disadvantaged people.
AcCE uses data-driven insights to improve access to high-quality cancer care and effective prevention programs, and this funding will expand these services.
Cancer incidence and mortality rates vary for different populations, due to complex reasons related to social determinants of health including, socioeconomic and cultural factors, education, access to health care and geographic location.
South Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Sonia Marshall PSM said the diversity of south west Sydney’s population provides a great opportunity for researchers and clinicians to investigate and understand the barriers to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer in different populations.
“South Western Sydney is one of the most rapidly growing and diverse communities in Australia, we see firsthand that while cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, it does not affect everyone equally,” she said.
“Harnessing the close connections formed between communities and their local health services and amplifying to influence national health care practices will benefit all.”
In NSW:
- Socioeconomically disadvantaged people are 1.5 times more likely to die from cancer;
- People from CALD communities are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with infection-related cancers and can experience barriers to cancer screening and care;
- People living in regional and remote areas are 1.2 times more likely to die than their major city counterparts;
- Aboriginal people are twice as likely to die from cancer.
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said certain communities carry a disproportionate burden, shaped by cultural, social, economic, environmental and structural factors.
“The burden of cancer in Australia has nearly doubled over the past two decades, but its impact is not felt equally,” she said.
“Everyone deserves to have access to the same resources and services regardless of their background and the only way to address inequities in cancer care and outcomes is to partner with disadvantaged communities.
“Led by clinicians and researchers at SWSLHD and the Ingham Institute, who are internationally renowned for partnering with communities and addressing inequitable healthcare, the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity, provides the framework to help us drive lasting change in cancer outcomes.”
Minister for Medical Research, David Harris said that by bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, consumers and community, the partnership will focus on ensuring that every person in NSW regardless of where they live, their background, or circumstances has access to personalised and high-quality cancer care.
“Driven by data and research, the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity will drive collaborative solutions that address unacceptable inequities in cancer outcomes across our state, ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.
“I’m proud to be part of a Government that is partnering with the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research on this important initiative and thank them for all the wonderful work they do making cancer care more accessible for marginalised communities.”
Community and government organisations from across Australia interested in becoming an AcCE partner and joining the mission for global health equity are invited to visit: https://inghaminstitute.org.au/support-us/australian-centre-for-cancer-equity/.
