VCCC Annual Report 2019-20
The VCCC Annual Report 2019-20 highlights the breadth, diversity, and significance of the alliance's work, the potential for future growth, and the impact on the Victorian community.
The VCCC has partnered with Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer consortium on a joint initiative to support clinicians and health care services treating patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery phase.
The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN) provides a variety of resources and opportunities to get involved, learn and contribute.
There are two ways to get involved:
Subscribe to receive the VCCN newsletter with latest news, developments and changes to cancer care in Victoria, online events and seminars.
Become a VCCN Member: Health care workers can become a member of the VCCN and participate in online conversations and knowledge sharing via the VCCN Slack workspace. Members must agree to the terms and conditions to join.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
WEHI is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre, with multidisciplinary teams that provide care informed by precision in fundamental, translational and clinical research.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) provides high-quality cancer treatment programs, translational research, and surgical and medical expertise, as well as other key support services such as clinical care and emergency medicine.
Australia’s first ranked research university and medical school, the university provides academic and research expertise to the alliance.
The Women’s provides specialist cancer services for women with breast and gynecological cancer and conducts research into the treatment and care of women with cancer, as well as the specific impacts of gender on cancer.
WEHI is one of Australia’s leading biomedical research organisations, with a strong national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research.
The Children’s Cancer Centre is the only provider of complex children’s cancer care and stem cell transplantation in Victoria and is a leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
Western Health is the largest provider of treatment for colorectal cancer and a leader in the treatment of upper gastro-intestinal cancers with programs in breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecology and haematological cancer.
Western Health has on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities and has a strong palliative care service.
A leader in palliative care practice and complex cancer surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne also provides oncology and haematology services, on-site radiation therapy and chemotherapy facilities, in addition the hospital houses the Victorian-wide psycho-oncology service.
The hospital shares its campus with St Vincent's Institute, which has fundamental and clinical researchers working on mechanisms of cancer and diseases of cancer survivorship.
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre at Austin Health provides world-leading specialist treatment and holistic care including clinical trials both independently and in partnership with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) – a leader in the development of experimental and breakthrough cancer treatments only metres from where patients are cared for.
The MCRI is a leader in understanding the underlying mechanisms and treatment of paediatric cancer and is home to the Children’s Cancer Tissue bank; a world class resource for researchers studying rare solid tumours and leukemia.
2020 a year half empty or half full?
For some, it may feel as though we can put some distance between the uncertainty of 2020 as we enjoy current freedoms. These past weeks, I’ve heard many people say that they didn’t fully appreciate how deeply they had been affected by the events of last year and it’s taken time to process all that has occurred.
According to Vincent Dumez, Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public, the University of Montreal, we are in the middle of a patient-led innovation revolution. Does that make the 800 people who attended the first joint Australian and New Zealand Consumer Experience and Leadership in Health Summit last month revolutionaries?
Learn moreIt has been a long year for the 2020 Picchi Award winners who finally received their trophies last week. Matthew Grant is in the Netherlands experiencing the global pandemic from a European perspective. French-national Deborah Meyran completed her PhD with a young family, has forged new frontiers with her research, and France is suddenly much further away. Stefan Bjelosevic has been bunkered down at Peter Mac at the Johnstone Lab as a key member of the team. These young enterprising scientists have adapted to all that has been thrown at them, and this makes them even more impressive.
Learn moreNew online course endorsed by clinicians and consumers
Ray Kelly, Chair of the North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service Consumer Reference Group and a member of the NEMICS Governance Committee recently road-tested a new, four-week, part-time massive open online course, Cancer and the Older Person, earning a certificate of achievement and giving it the thumbs up.
Cancer can be devastating in all its forms. There may be much to mourn. Head and neck cancers can be among the most distressing, not only for their obvious ability to alter a person’s appearance but for their capacity to affect a person’s sense of self.
It is rare for oncologists to receive training in the impacts of head and neck cancer and the effect that treatments may have on intimacy and sexual health. Yet we know that patients want to talk about sexual issues with oncologists, and they need practical information about changes in their sex life and reassurance that their issues are not unique.
Using simulation models to optimise the development and use of oncology innovations.
Hear from the Centre for Cancer Research fellow Dr Koen Degeling, who will introduce the concept of simulation models and demonstrate their role in health technology assessment.
Investigator-initiated trials innovations
From idea generation to protocol development, the VCCC’s Investigator-Initiated Trial Capacity Building program addresses a critical need by focusing on ways to develop investigator-initiated trials - building awareness and supporting emerging leaders and teams.
The program seeks to address the number one unmet need in the cancer clinical trials field - with access to resources and supportive processes for investigators to develop cancer clinical trials.
Hosted by course convenors Professor Grant McArthur and Dr David Kok, along with research supervisors, this special virtual event will showcase the inaugural cohort of Master of Cancer Sciences alumni and their cancer research projects.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) alliance is changing the way we tackle cancer in Victoria. Supported by new funding from the Victorian Government, over the next 3½ years the alliance will continue its groundbreaking work, developing and implementing innovative, system-changing programs aimed at improving outcomes for patients with cancer.
We are excited to be offering a project management role for an exceptional person possessing clinical trials/research experience, preferably in the emerging area of teletrials.
Teaching Assistant, Level A casual role. Fixed-term position teaching period commencing Term 3 2021.
We require a casual Research Project Supervisor in the Research Thesis Capstone subject to take responsibility for the supervision of multiple students (4-5 per 6-month project) within the Master of Cancer Sciences (MCS) course.
The VCCC is once again proud to partner with the Picchi Brothers Foundation to invite applications for the Picchi Award for Excellence in Cancer Research 2021. Up to three $10,000 prizes recognising excellence in cancer research will be awarded to PhD students from the VCCC alliance.