A dedicated First Nations Cancer Clinic has opened at Eastern Health’s Healesville Hospital – delivering free, culturally safe oncology services to the region’s large Aboriginal population.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Infrastructure, Tim Richardson, opened the public clinic yesterday.
“This new First Nations Cancer Clinic in Healesville will help us deliver equitable access to cancer treatment, therapies and clinical trials in a culturally sensitive setting,” said Mr Richardson.
Research shows that cancer disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, with the five-year survival rate among Aboriginal Victorians 12% lower than non-Aboriginal Victorians.
Providing medical oncology services, the clinic is staffed with oncologists specially trained in treating the most common types of cancer for First Nations Australians such as lung, prostate, breast, and bowel cancers.
Delivered by Eastern Health and Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC), the name of the new clinic was chosen by the Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation – nangnak warr bagora – aligning with the Government’s focus on Aboriginal self-determination and cultural safety.
“We know that when we listen to Aboriginal Victorians, we get the best health outcomes – that’s why we are delivering culturally safe health care to ensure people feel safe to seek the care they need,” said Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas.
Operated by Eastern Health, the Minister says the facility will cater to the medical, social, and emotional wellbeing of patients, with embedded social workers and an Aboriginal liaison officer working to ensure that the clinic addresses the gap in cancer outcomes in the community.
