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The cancer journey: Informing choice
23 June 2005
© Commonwealth of Australia 2005
ISBN 0 642 71509 2 |
View the report as a single document - (PDF 783KB)
View the report as separate downloadable parts:
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| Membership of Committee |
(PDF 127KB) |
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| List of acronyms |
(PDF 34KB) |
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| Prologue |
(PDF 18KB) |
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| Recommendations |
(PDF 36KB) |
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| Chapter 1 - Introduction |
(PDF 98KB) |
Terms of reference
Conduct of the Inquiry
Background to Inquiry - Cancer in Australia
What is cancer?
The good news
The increasing burden of cancer in Australia
The need to ensure the best use of cancer resources
Increasing patient focus and empowerment
The Call for Reform of Cancer Care in Australia
Conclusion
Acknowledgments |
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| Chapter 2 - Role of the Commonwealth and state/territory governments |
(PDF 79KB) |
The Australian Health Care System
Overview of health system funding
Roles and responsibilities
Commonwealth government
State and Territory and local governments
Private Sector
Non-government sector
Joint government policy forums
Medical workforce
Health Reform Agenda Working Group
Coordination of cancer activities
Expenditure on cancer
National Service Improvement Framework for Cancer
Strengthening Cancer Care
Cancer Australia
State and Territory Cancer Initiatives
New South Wales - The Cancer Institute
Victoria - Department of Human Services
The development and implementation of the Cancer Services Framework
The Fighting Cancer policy
The Ministerial Taskforce for Cancer
Establishment of Cancer Coordination Unit
Western Australia - Department of Health
Conclusion |
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| Chapter 3 - Improving cancer care in Australia |
(PDF 434KB) |
Traditional care model
Referral issues
Accreditation of cancer services and credentialing of practitioners
Fragmentation of care
Multidisciplinary Care
Definitional Issues
The situation overseas
The situation in Australia
National Breast Cancer Centre leading the way in multidisciplinary care
The development of multidisciplinary care in Australia
Palliative Care
Conclusion
Barriers to implementing multidisciplinary care
A question of patient ownership
Resistance to change
Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS)
Current Medicare provisions
Workforce issues
The cost of Multidisciplinary Care
Rural and Indigenous Australians and multidisciplinary care
Care coordination
Breast Care Nurse Model
Who is best placed to coordinate?
The need for information
Conclusion
Psychosocial support
Conclusion
Cancer care in regional, rural and remote areas
The way forward
Video and Teleconferencing
Travel and accommodation assistance schemes
Cancer care for Indigenous Australians
Problems with data quality
Conclusion |
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| Chapter 4 - Complementary and alternative therapies |
(PDF 185KB) |
The great divide: conventional and complementary treatment
Definitional issues
Conclusion
Prevalence and cost of complementary therapies
What motivates people to use complementary therapies
Comparisons with overseas practises
Evidence for complementary therapies
Research into and regulation of Complementary Therapies
Safety and efficacy of complementary therapies
Towards Integrative Medicine - Integrating complementary therapies and conventional medicine
Providers of complementary therapies
Moving to integration - from ideas into practice
Information for cancer patients
Regulation of complementary therapy practitioners
Integrative medicine as practiced in Australia
Complementary therapy services in the non-government sector
Conclusion |
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| Chapter 5 - Other issues raised in the inquiry |
(PDF 172KB) |
Early detection through screening programs
Access to free mammograms
Access to free mammograms once diagnosed with breast cancer
Access to breast prostheses and lymphoedema sleeves
Access to PET scans for people with recurrent or advanced breast cancer
Adolescent cancer care
Research
Clinical Trials
Data
Palliative care |
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| Chapter 6 - Future directions for cancer care in Australia |
(PDF 87KB) |
Diagnosis and referral
Referral guidelines
Empowering cancer patients through provision of information
The need for support
Improving delivery of services and treatment options
Development of multidisciplinary care
Measures to increase the practice of multidisciplinary care in Australia
Multidisciplinary care needs to be better supported by the health system
Accreditation of cancer services and credentialing of practitioners
A multidisciplinary team must include non medical health providers
National adoption of clinical guidelines
Conclusion
Improving care co-ordination
Improving access to psychosocial care
The need for information during the cancer journey
The needs of regional and Indigenous Australians
Complementary therapies
The need for more information on complementary therapies
Towards Integrative Medicine
The need for more investment in research into complementary therapies
Palliative care
Conclusion |
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| Appendix 1 |
(PDF 119KB) |
| List of public submissions, tabled documents and other additional information authorised for publication by the Committee |
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| Appendix 2 |
(PDF 44KB) |
| Witnesses who appeared before the Committee at public hearings |
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| Appendix 3 |
(PDF 25KB) |
| Government and non-Government organisations involved in cancer treatment or support |
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia