This funding will recruit four SLCNs across the state in areas of highest need and a telehealth Lung Cancer Support Nurse assigned to Lung Foundation Australia’s 1800 Service.

From detection to diagnosis, treatment, and care, these highly anticipated nurses will play a key role in addressing the inequities that are currently faced by Australians living with lung cancer.

Lung cancer is Australia’s biggest cancer killer, with 8,693 Australian’s having lost their life to the disease last year alone.

Despite this, there are only 37 SLCNs in Australia to support the 22,800 Australians currently living with lung cancer. This is just 1 nurse for every 616 patients, compared to breast cancer, with 1 nurse for every 168 patients.

These long-awaited SLCNs will support local patients by directing care and providing information and education throughout a patients’ treatment.

SLCNs play a crucial role in the coordination, leadership, consultancy and advocacy in patient care to help deliver quality and safe, individualised care to people living with lung cancer.

Lung Foundation Australia would like to thank The Hon Yvette D’Ath, MP, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services for her support and acknowledgement of the unique challenges that people living with lung cancer face and for speaking at the opening of the Australian Lung Cancer Conference. 

This pilot program is an important step toward improving access to treatment and ensuring that people with lung cancer have timely access to supportive care.

Lung Foundation Australia is calling on the Federal Government to invest $5 million for more SLCN– a key recommendation of the newly released The Next Breath: A Blueprint for Lung Cancer Reform in Australia 2022-2025, aimed at improving outcomes for Australians diagnosed with lung cancer. You can read the report and recommendations here: https://lungfoundation.com.au/blueprint/.