Volume 224 - Published ahead of Issue 11
Opportunities and Challenges to Achieving the Australian Cancer Plan Goal of World Class Health Systems for Optimal Cancer Care
Authors: Carolyn Ee, Ria Joseph, Elise Button, Stacey George, Makala Castelli, David Currow, Prue Cormie, Olivia Farrer, Michael Jefford, Nicolas H. Hart, Chad Y. Han, Deidre D. Morgan, Michael P. Osborn, Candice Oster, Joel Rhee, Anna Ugalde, Eric Yeung, Catherine Paterson
Correspondence: carolyn.ee@flinders.edu.au
Med J Aust 2026 || doi: 10.5694/mja2.70330
Published online: 8 November 2026
Published online: 8 November 2026
Abstract
The Australian Cancer Plan is a 10-year national framework to improve cancer outcomes for all Australians. Its third Strategic Objective envisions integrated, coordinated, data-driven high-quality health systems that deliver optimal cancer care and outcomes, with survivorship and palliative care as priority areas for action. In this perspective article, we examine the challenges and opportunities to achieving this objective. We identify persistent gaps in survivorship and palliative care and in equity for priority populations. To achieve the stated objective, we present opportunities to expand team-based models of follow-up care, strengthening of comprehensive cancer networks and embedding patient-reported outcome and experience measures nationally.
Maximising Cancer Prevention and Early Detection in the Australian Cancer Plan: Where Are We Now and What Should Come Next?
Erin L. Symonds, Billie Bonevski, Richard Edwards, Nathan J. Harrison, Sana Ishaque, Nicole M. Rankin, Sibel Saya, Renee J. Smith, Carolyn Ee
An Australian Narrative Review of Adoptive Cellular Therapies in Malignancy: Expanding Indications, Referral Pathways and Safety Beyond Specialist Centres
Sarah Childs, David Ma, Anthony Rodrigues, Jennifer Massey, Rasha Cosman, Venessa Chin, Laila Girgis, James Lynam, Peter Lau, Barbara Withers, Anthony M. Joshua, Ben Tran, Jayesh Desai, Simon J. Harrison, John Moore, Jia Liu
Peritoneal Tuberculosis and Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia: A Case of Hickam's Dictum
Zayn Al-Timimi, Gem Chew, Martin Browne, Christiaan Mostert
From Ambition to Action: Closing Policy, Equity and Implementation Gaps in the Australian Cancer Plan's ‘Enhanced Consumer Experience’
Carla Thamm, Elise Button, Oluwaseyifunmi A. Agbejule, Reegan Knowles, Karen van Gorp, Mark B. Pinkham, Meinir Krishnasamy, Alexandra L. McCarthy, Raymond J. Chan
Sovereignty and Survival: Understanding Lung Cancer Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia, a Case–Control Study
Alice R. T. Bergin, Luc te Marvelde, Roger L. Milne, Benjamin J. Solomon, Kris Ivanova, Peter Savas, Stephen J. Luen, Jay Hamann, Andrea Casey, Nicole Watt, Sue M. Evans, Gail Garvey, Sherene Loi
The Changing Indications for Adult Liver Transplantation in Australia: A Narrative Review
Fadak Mohammadi, Alan J. Wigg, Ken Liu, Simone I. Strasser