Development of the Optimal Care Pathway for people living with cancer in rural and remote areas | Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA)

We are currently seeking multidisciplinary members to form the Working Group to develop the new Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for people living with cancer in rural and remote areas.

What's involved?

Member

Joining the Working Group as a Member will involve:

2 – 3 Working Group meetings over an 18month period, ending early 2026.
Contribution to content development of the OCP, Quick Reference Guide, and Guide to Best Cancer Care.
Provision of insight into the experience of cancer within rural and remote settings, with potential out of session discussions to gain consensus.
Adherence to project processes and timelines.
Promotion of the new OCP within the healthcare system and to relevant stakeholders.

Chair

The Chairperson will be provided with preparation, administration, and facilitation support throughout the life of this project. With this support, joining the Working Group as the Chairperson will involve:

Effective facilitation of a group of diverse experts to achieve consensus on optimal care.
Bringing expertise and experience in rural and remote cancer care.
Ensuring the latest evidence-based information is incorporated into the OCP.
Ensuring policies and procedures outlined in OCP Toolkit are adhered to.
Evaluating Conflict of Interest submissions from the Working Group.

Are you eligible to join the Working Group?

We are seeking professionals and people with the lived experience of cancer who provide direct or supportive cancer care in rural or remote settings in Australia.

Rural and remote areas are eligible if they are classified as rural, remote, or very remote communities according to the Monash Modified Model classification of 3-7. We will support you to determine the Modified Monash Model classification of the location in which you have cancer care experience.

There are no restrictions on professional disciplines. As per the OCP Toolkit, we particularly encourage expressions of interest from:

Medical Oncologists
Radiation Oncologists
General Practitioners
Haematologists
Surgeons
Pathologists
Radiologists or imaging specialists
Psychologists
Nurses,
Allied Health,
People with the lived experience of cancer, including family carers

Other professionals are also encouraged to express their interest, including Patient Advocates, Care Coordinators, Social Workers, Healthcare Managers, Personal and Home Caregivers, or Aides or Assistants.

Express your interest

If you believe you are eligible and would like to join the Working Group as a Member or Chairperson, please complete the form below.

The form includes some professional and sociodemographic questions about you to help us ensure adequate diversity in the Working Group.

Title *

Please select your preferred title

Full name *

Please write your first name and surname in full

Preferred title *

Please state your preferred title

How would you prefer to join the Working Group? *

What is your current professional role?

For example, Medical Practitioner or RN

Which organisation/s do you currently work for?

For example, Varsity hospital and Bonogin Medical Centre

What is your email address? *

We will contact you via email in the first instance, please double check it has been typed correctly

What is your best phone number?

This is optional, but may help us get in contact with you if there are any difficulties with email

Where is the rural or remote place that you work (for professionals) or had your cancer experience (for people with lived experience)?

We will use this information to determine the Modified Monash Model rurality classification

Suburb *

Postcode *

State *

Please briefly describe your experience in rural and remote health settings *

For example, duration of working or living rurally, locations, roles, positive or negative experiences, priority issues

If you are wishing to join as a professional, please briefly describe your professional experience in direct or supportive cancer care

If you are wishing to join as a person with the lived experience of cancer, please briefly describe your cancer experience

For example, the year you were diagnosed, the type of cancer and type of treatment you had, or your role as a carer for a loved one with cancer

Do you have any perceived, potential, or existing conflicts of interest with this project? If so, please describe

There will 2 or 3 Working Group meetings. Would you prefer these to be in-person or online events? *

Please note that neither option will cost you anything to attend

Would you like to be considered for the Chairperson position?

If you would like to be considered for the Chairperson position, please describe any experience that you have in chairing or leading a group or committee