The Alice Springs community will receive a significant boost in cancer care with the appointment of a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse, Pauline Otieno, specialising in supporting people and their families experiencing any type of cancer.
Pauline has 30 years of experience as a registered nurse and has been a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse since 2025. Pauline has postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Nursing, Teaching and Assessment. Passionate about addressing the challenges of remote healthcare, every day Pauline makes a difference in her community by acting as a patient advocate.
With around 1 in 2 people diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and over 170,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Australia this year, the demand for specialist cancer care has never been greater. For people living in regional and remote communities, access to care can be significantly more challenging.
Ryan Barlow, McGrath Foundation CEO, said:
"This new role ensures more people and families in Alice Springs can access expert cancer support locally, and is an important step towards our purpose of ensuring no one goes through cancer without the care of a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse."
- Ryan Barlow | CEO
"McGrath Cancer Care Nurses are clinical experts who help people with cancer and their families navigate the medical system by providing clinical, psychosocial and emotional support to people with any type of cancer throughout their treatment," Barlow continued.
Pauline Otieno, based at Alice Springs hospital, said:
"Living in Alice Springs poses a lot of challenges for people experiencing cancer, including access to treatment, travel and accommodation, as well as time away from their family and community."
- Pauline Otieno | McGrath Cancer Care Nurse
"As a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse, I am passionate about supporting my patients by coordinating their care and navigating the complexities of remote healthcare. My focus is on easing these pressures, bringing care closer to home and ensuring people can concentrate on what matters most to them," Pauline expanded.
There are currently 367 McGrath Cancer Care Nurses across Australia, and five supporting people with cancer throughout the Northern Territory.
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