Queensland Health is proud to offer high-quality cancer services throughout Queensland.
Thanks to research, innovation, and our dedicated workforce, the face of cancer care is
changing. More people are surviving cancer than ever before.
However, a cancer diagnosis still has a significant impact on the people affected and their
loved ones. Cancer as a health issue remains one of the leading causes of death and the
leading cause of reduced quality of life in Australia and Queensland.
The cancer service system is complex and faces several challenges. We recognise the need to
take a whole-of-system approach and plan cancer services that are responsive to changing
population health needs across Queensland.
To respond to current and future challenges, we are developing a Queensland Cancer
Strategy to advance equitable, evidenced-based and innovative cancer services. The 10-year
Strategy will build on work at the local, state and national levels like implementation of the
Australian Cancer Plan, delivering the Queensland Cancer Centre, and improving cancer
services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland.
Through this Strategy, we want to grow a broad network of cancer services across the state
that help people access high quality cancer care as close to their home as possible.
The first step in developing the Strategy was an online consultation survey open to all
Queenslanders. This document is a summary of the key findings from the consultation
survey.
Stakeholder feedback is included as stated and does not represent government policy. The
document is intended to show what we have heard through this consultation process and
does not draw conclusions.
Queensland Health appreciates the contributions of all consultation participants. Your
feedback and ideas will help shape the Queensland Cancer Strategy
Consultation process
The consultation survey was widely shared across Queensland Health and externally to other
stakeholders, including consumers. Approximately 186 individuals and organisations were
contacted directly to participate and invited to share the opportunity through their
networks.
Within Queensland Health, this included communications to:
• A clinical working group with 31 clinicians from across the Hospital and Health
Services and across a broad range of cancer care professions, including nursing,
allied health and different medical specialties.
• A consumer working group with 9 consumers from across the state with diverse
experiences of cancer including childhood and adolescent and young adult cancer.
• Statewide clinical networks including the Queensland Cancer Clinical Network, the
Rural and Remote Network, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Network,
the General Medicine Clinical Network, the Palliative Care Clinical Network and the
Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network
• Representatives from all sixteen Hospital and Health Services through multiple
forums at the executive level and by direct engagement with health service planners
and clinicians by the project team.
• All staff via multiple communication methods and platforms, at a state and local HHS
level.
To reach the wider Queensland community, a targeted social media campaign was also
undertaken on Facebook and Instagram. The campaign was seen by 103,310 accounts with
1,995 clicks. In the first four days of the campaign, advertisements were targeted to the
following cohorts with specific experiences of cancer:
• Queenslanders in rural, remote and regional areas (outside Brisbane)
• Men
• Young people (aged 15 – 18)
Following this, the campaign was opened to the population of Queensland.
Throughout the engagement period, the Queensland Health webpage for the survey received
4,497 views.
To support engagement with the non-government sector, 38 organisations who support
cancer survivors or provide cancer care were invited to participate. Two webinar sessions
were held to support organisations to engage with their networks and complete the survey