Aboriginal Cancer Partnership Project; working collaboratively to reduce the burden of cancer in Aboriginal communities in NSW — Agentur Pty Ltd

Aboriginal Cancer Partnership Project; working collaboratively to reduce the burden of cancer in Aboriginal communities in NSW (16)

Sally M Crawshaw 1
  1. Cancer Institute NSW, Eveleigh, NSW, Australia

Background: In NSW, cancer is the second biggest killer of Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people are at higher risk of developing cancer and for all cancers combined have poorer survival. Lack of access to culturally appropriate information, health services and treatment means the burden of disease due to cancer is greater for Aboriginal people.

Methods: The Aboriginal Cancer Partnership Project takes a collaborative approach, whereby all initiatives are developed by, or in partnership with, Aboriginal communities and organisations. The Project focuses on improving cancer care for NSW Aboriginal people by developing workforce skills and culturally appropriate cancer services.

Results/Discussions: The Project takes an innovative approach to building health equity. Through the Project, the Cancer Institute NSW is collaborating with five Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to develop and implement effective and culturally appropriate models of cancer care. This is being achieved in three distinct ways:
 1.The development and implementation of reciprocal clinical placement programs for Aboriginal Health Workers and staff at cancer services
 2. Building and supporting health professional support networks for a range of staff providing cancer    services to Aboriginal people
 3. Building formal partnerships between Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and cancer services to remove some of the barriers to accessing cancer services.

Conclusions/implications: Framed by equity principles the Project works to address access to healthcare, a key social determinant of health. It has established a state-wide health professional support network, delivered cultural awareness training for cancer services staff and over 50 Aboriginal Health Workers have participated in a cancer clinical placements program.
The key learnings from this Project are directly transferable to other health professionals working in chronic care. With 12 months remaining, the Project has made significant gains in improving cancer service accessibility for Aboriginal people with cancer through community-driven, locally owned solutions and an overarching state wide approach.

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