Associate Professor Mei Ling Yap, Head of the Cancer Program at The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney, has been awarded a 2025 Jeannie Ferris Recognition Award by Cancer Australia, for her significant contribution to improving equity in cancer outcomes in South-Western Sydney and the Asia Pacific region.
Established in 2013 in honour of the legacy of the late Senator Jeannie Ferris, the awards recognise health professionals and researchers, and members of the community whose commitment has driven significant advances in equity for Australians affected by cancer.
Minister Butler presented this year's awards at Parliament House in Canberra, with Jeremy Ferris, son of the late Senator, also attending. The annual awards encourage progress towards equity of cancer outcomes for all Australians with all cancers, no matter where they live or who they are.
"Access to healthcare, including high quality cancer care, is a human right. My research is inspired by the people diagnosed with cancer and their families in South-Western Sydney, where I have worked for over 15 years - a diverse and vibrant, yet less privileged part of Australia.
This award also acknowledges the contribution of my research colleagues and the Australian cancer control community to improving outcomes globally. I have been very fortunate to have worked with dedicated colleagues from the Asia-Pacific Radiation Oncology Special Interest Group of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, as well as global partners, to improve access to radiation therapy in our region.
By:Associate Professor Mei Ling Yap
Head of Cancer Program, The George Institute for Global Health
A radiation oncologist and clinician researcher based in South-Western Sydney Local Health District, A/Prof Yap holds research positions at The George Institute; at the South-Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Sydney; and the Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes, Research and Evaluation (CCORE) at the Ingham Institute. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for migrant, refugee, and culturally diverse populations.
A/Prof Yap also leads a project to build a standardised, data-driven approach to cancer care across the Asia Pacific (the region with the highest number of cancer diagnoses per year in the world), in partnership the International Atomic Energy Agency.
