The Australian Government today announced $1 million to fund projects that build stronger networks between cancer services in outer metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote communities, and larger metropolitan centres.
The Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN) Networking for Cancer Equity Grant Program will strengthen connections between cancer services and improve access to quality care for people living in outer-metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities, including priority populations such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This initiative will bring comprehensive cancer care closer to home for Australians living outside major cities. By connecting smaller services with larger services, multidisciplinary teams can collaborate, share expertise, and deliver optimal care to people closer to home. These networks will improve coordination across the system and support sustainable models of care.
Each project will involve partnerships between smaller cancer services and larger cancer services, building capacity and sharing expertise across the system.
Successful grant recipients are expected to run their activities from April 2026 to June 2027.
The program supports the activation of the ACCN - a national virtual network launched in May 2024, connecting cancer services across Australia with over 1200 members and growing.
The ACCN enables knowledge sharing, collaboration, and system-wide innovation to deliver more equitable access to high quality cancer care and improve outcomes for all Australians.
