VICTORIAN COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTR

Tuesday 14 May 2024

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

Challenging times

Despite the challenges of the past week, I write to you today with gratitude. I was buoyed by the outpouring of support from our members and colleagues in the cancer sector right around Australia, after learning the alliance was allocated $7.5 million in the Victorian Government budget compared to $32 million for our last four-year program of work in our Strategic Program Plan 2020-2024.

The community seemed to share the sentiment with widespread media coverage of the reductions not only to our organisation but the reduction in medical research funding as a whole capturing a strong sentiment I’m not sure anyone anticipated. It dominated talkback radio and we received numerous calls from the public from those affected by cancer wanting to show their support.

Latest News

VCCC Alliance responds to Victorian Government budget funding

The VCCC Alliance welcomes the $7.5 million in funding for its organisation announced as part of the Victorian Government’s 2024-25 budget on Tuesday, 7 May, but acknowledges it is a very disappointing budget for the state’s cancer and medical research sectors.

VCCC Alliance CEO Professor Grant McArthur said: “Medical research is a major jewel in Victoria’s crown and the reduction in funding from previous levels is concerning, as is the limited amount of funds in this budget for the cancer sector.

Investing in nurses means investing in care

For International Nurses Day, VCCC Alliance Research & Education Lead, Cancer Nursing, Prof Mei Krishnasamy reflects on this year’s theme: ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care’, and the International Council of Nursing's current focus on workforce challenges not just here in Australia, but across the globe.

Master of Cancer Sciences provides multiple career pathways

Sarika Tulpule was awarded Best Presentation for her thesis at our recent Master of Cancer Sciences graduate showcase. She tells VCCC Alliance what sparked her interest in cancer research and the benefits of juggling work and study.

New treatments closer for devastating liver cancer

A ground-breaking new approach to treating chronic Hepatitis B infection and liver cancer that uses cutting-edge mRNA technology is being developed in Melbourne.

“Liver patients have a very low survival rate of only 23 per cent; in 2023 there were almost 3,050 new liver cancer diagnoses, and 2,545 people died from the disease,” said Professor Joe Trapani AO, Director, Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy at the VCCC Alliance.

VCCC Alliance welcomes $1.89bn Federal Government health research package

VCCC Alliance CEO, Prof Grant McArthur AO, has welcomed the announcement of a $1.89 billion package for health research from the Federal Government.

Journal article: Linked data and sarcoma

VCCC Alliance Data Connect has used linked primary care data to detect that Australian sarcoma patients have increased GP clinical activity from six months before their cancer is diagnosed.

Journal article: Optimising outcomes in tongue cancer

A new paper has been published examining how a multidisciplinary approach to the management of tongue cancer is enhancing diagnosis, treatment and recovery for patients.

Current Opportunities

Scholarships: Paediatric Cancer Nurse Research Training

Applications close 5.00pm, Friday 31 May 2024

Nurse in Australia or New Zealand involved in the care of children with cancer? We are offering a limited number of scholarships for nurses across Australia and New Zealand involved in paediatric cancer to complete our Essential Research Skills for Clinical Nurses online course. Scholarships will cover enrolment costs.

Learn more and apply ›

Job: Subject Coordinator, Supportive Care and Palliative Care (Casual)

Applications close 9.00am, Monday 3 June 2024

The Master of Cancer Sciences is a fully online, two-year part-time course offered jointly by the VCCC Alliance and the University of Melbourne. We are seeking a Subject Coordinator in the Supportive Care and Palliative Care subject to support a tutorial group of up to 25 online graduate students and the supervision of the Teaching Assistant (if required by student enrolments).

Learn more and apply ›

2024 Picchi Award for Excellence in Cancer Research

Applications close 5.00pm, Monday 24 June 2024

The VCCC Alliance is proud to partner once again with the Picchi Brothers Foundation for the 2024 Picchi Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research. Up to three $10,000 prizes recognising outstanding cancer research will be awarded to PhD students from across the VCCC Alliance member organisations and regional partners with a collaboration agreement.

Learn more and apply ›

Centre for Cancer Education

Course: Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs)

CATEGORY: CLINICAL TRIALS

DURATION: 4 HOURS

This new online course equips participants with foundation skills and knowledge to create an Investigator-Initiated Trial. The course structure follows the life of an IIT over eight educational modules.

Learning outcomes:

Understand lifecycle stages of an IIT, and what to consider for early-phase IITs
Discover the key activities, tasks and responsibilities required when conducting an IIT.

Start course ›