The Minns Labor Government is investing more than half a million dollars to help improve outcomes for communities disproportionately impacted by cancer, through a national research collaboration.
The Australian Centre for Cancer Equity (AcCE), established in 2024, is a partnership between the NSW Government - via the South Western Sydney Local Health District and Cancer Institute NSW - and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.
AcCE's mission is to address and reduce disparity in cancer outcomes for Aboriginal people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, people living in regional and remote areas and socioeconomically disadvantaged people.
AcCE uses data-driven insights to improve access to high-quality cancer care and effective prevention programs, and this funding will expand these services.
Cancer incidence and mortality rates vary for different populations, due to complex reasons related to social determinants of health including, socioeconomic and cultural factors, education, access to health care and geographic location.
In NSW:
- Socioeconomically disadvantaged people are 1.5 times more likely to die from cancer
- People from CALD communities are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with infection-related cancers and can experience barriers to cancer screening and care
- People living in regional and remote areas are 1.2 times more likely to die than their major city counterparts
- Aboriginal people are twice as likely to die from cancer.
To help close these gaps, the Minns Government has awarded AcCE with $770,000 in funding, comprising:
- A $150,000 Strategic Program Grant via Cancer Institute NSW to support start up activity
- $620,000 in grants to support clinical trial participation in CALD communities through the following projects:
- Trialtranslate - a multilingual chat bot codesigned with communities to transform complex documents into accessible information in multiple languages via a $260,000 grant over three years
- Bridges - a community ambassador program providing a link between healthcare workers and CALD communities to enhance engagement in research via a $360,000 grant over three years.
AcCE is one of the many ways the NSW Government is working together with non-government and community organisations to reduce the impact of cancer and ensure all communities have access to world-class cancer screening, care, research and support.
Community and government organisations from across Australia interested in becoming an AcCE partner and joining the mission for global health equity are invited to visit: https://inghaminstitute.org.au/support-us/australian-centre-for-cancer-equity/
Minister for Medical Research and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"Bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, consumers and community, this founding partnership will focus on ensuring that every person in NSW regardless of where they live, their background, or circumstances has access to personalised and high-quality cancer care.
"Driven by data and research, the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity will drive collaborative solutions that address unacceptable inequities in cancer outcomes across our state, ensuring no one is left behind.
"I'm proud to be part of a Government that is partnering with the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research on this important initiative and thank them for all the wonderful work they do making cancer care more accessible for marginalised communities."
South Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Sonia Marshall PSM said:
"South Western Sydney is one of the most rapidly growing and diverse communities in Australia, we see firsthand that while cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, it does not affect everyone equally.
"The diversity of south west Sydney's population provides a great opportunity for researchers and clinicians to investigate and understand the barriers to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer in different populations.
"Harnessing the close connections formed between communities and their local health services and amplifying to influence national health care practices will benefit all."
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O'Brien AM said:
"The burden of cancer in Australia has nearly doubled over the past two decades, but its impact is not felt equally. Certain communities carry a disproportionate burden, shaped by cultural, social, economic, environmental and structural factors.
"Everyone deserves to have access to the same resources and services regardless of their background and the only way to address inequities in cancer care and outcomes is to partner with disadvantaged communities.
"Led by clinicians and researchers at SWSLHD and the Ingham Institute, who are internationally renowned for partnering with communities and addressing inequitable healthcare, the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity, provides the framework to help us drive lasting change in cancer outcomes."
Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research CEO Simone Proft said:
"Ingham Institute was founded with a mission to improve the health of communities that experience significant disadvantage, and we are delighted to be launching this collaboration to tackle the major disparities that are pervasive in cancer care and outcomes.
"The impact of cancer is already a physically and psychologically traumatic experience. The research conducted by Ingham Institute's researchers in partnership with SWSLHD and Cancer Institute NSW through AcCE will alleviate the added burdens confronting our communities who are left behind.
"We specialise in applied research that delivers tangible impact and digital innovation. Projects such as Trialtranslate and Bridges have the potential to deliver rapid results though breaking down the cultural and linguistic barriers preventing our diverse communities in South western Sydney to navigate the health care system."
Department of Medical Oncology Liverpool Hospital Director and AcCE lead Professor Wei Chua said:
"Access to equitable cancer care transcends a patient's journey. It reflects our responsibility as a society to support the most vulnerable.
"Medical information is complex, even for English-speaking patients. In culturally and linguistically diverse communities, language barriers and health literacy contribute to the complexity of navigating the healthcare system. Our role at the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity is to close the gaps using innovative approaches relevant to the communities.
"We want to increase participation in clinical trials from culturally and linguistically diverse communities so we can better address health disparities. Identifying enablers and barriers, and strategies to overcome them can lead to a better understanding to help in advancing therapeutic interventions."
Person with a lived experience of breast cancer Iman Zakhary said:
"AcCE is undertaking important initiatives that greatly benefit patients from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
"Projects like the multilingual chat bot is helping cancer patients understand what is happening with their treatment in their own language. This is making the cancer treatment journey easier and clearer for patients.
"I've also spoken to many patients who have expressed deep gratitude for being part of the Arabic navigators project, which is providing bilingual community educators to explain what clinical trials are and provide culturally sensitive support to help individuals navigate complex medical systems."
