INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN PROSTATE CANCER CARE Movember funds three Australian programs targeting under-served populations
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Sarah Weller
Global Director – Prostate Cancer, Movember
Kris Bennett,
Director – Prostate Cancer Health Equity, Movember
Movember is committed to advancing new research, cutting-edge treatments, and healthy behaviours, and advocating for inclusive, gender-responsive healthcare that caters to the unique needs of men, women, and gender-diverse individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In doing so, they hope to forge a future where barriers to healthy living are overcome, stigmas are removed, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to live a long, healthy life.
Income, education, geographical location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender and sexual orientation, are only a fraction of factors that can negatively affect a person’s quality of cancer care. This is defined as the “equity gap” and it’s costing people their lives.
Timed to coincide with World Cancer Day 4th February 2025, Movember announced prostate cancer investment of $5.5 million. Eighteen grants (16 proposals and 2 community development grants) are slated to directly tackle inequities in prostate cancer care. The funding will be over three years with the grants spread across five countries – six in Canada, five in the United Kingdom, three in Australia, three in the United States and one in Ireland – each having a specific focus population and care area.
AUSTRALIAN FUNDING FOR TARGETED PROSTATE CANCER CARE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
– The prostate cancer mortality rate in remote areas is almost 20% higher than in major cities. Access to treatment is the leading cause. This equity gap is what the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia’s grant will address, to improve access to and use of prostate cancer treatment services in rural and remote areas.
– Currently, prostate cancer data on the culturally and linguistically diverse communities of South Western Sydney is insufficient. That’s the first roadblock to improving this historically overlooked group’s prostate cancer care. The George Institute for Global Health aims to fill in the blanks with population level data to help close this equity gap.
– Australian Prostate Centre will create culturally appropriate prostate cancer services and practices for the LGBTQIA+ community, to counter the fear of discrimination and stigma that often stands in its way of getting prostate cancer screenings and diagnoses.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Movember about these targeted outreach programs in Australia and the hope they will help provide education and empower historically and intentionally excluded communities, using community stakeholders and voices to build trust. Collaborations with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and community-based organisations will share resources and expertise to develop tailored solutions.
-
Role of the Chief Nursing Officer
Professor Alison McMillan PSM spoke with Australian Health Journal about the role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Alison was appointed as our Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in November 2019.
In June 2021 Alison was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to driving the Government’s national health response priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to infection prevention measures.
-
Brain cancer Professor mentors Tasmanian researchers
Rosemary Harrup trained in Victoria and Tasmania in Medical Oncology and Clinical Haematology, completing a dual Fellowship in 2001. She is the current Director of Cancer and Blood Services at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), a role she has held since 2009.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Rosemary about her journey in medicine and specifically her work in Clinical Trials in Brain Cancer and the value she placed on her senior clinicians as mentors and how she now mentors others.
-
Improving access to osteopathic services and integrated care models
The Chief Executive Officer of Osteopathy Australia, Antony Nicholas spoke with Australian Health Journal about:
– Involvement in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
– The unique skills osteopaths have that can address the chronic disease burden
– Current workforce issues around osteopaths and if enough are coming through via student placements
– How uploading data to My Health Record by osteopaths could assist team-based care of patients
– How the value of osteopaths in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) could be better understood and better access for residents
– The recommendations around aged care access to allied health services, including osteopathy
– The recommendations around consumer access to osteopaths and GP referrals
– Other osteopathy recommendations in the upcoming Federal BudgetIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
