Improving outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians

Friday 4 November, 2011

Cancer Council Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) have teamed up to help reduce the impact of cancer on the Victorian Aboriginal community.  

Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper and representatives from VACCHO signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations on 26 September.

Mr Harper said the document symbolises the commitment to work collaboratively to improve cancer survival rates of Aboriginal Victorians.

"Current figures show Aboriginal people are twice as likely to die within five years of a cancer diagnosis than the rest of the Victorian population," Mr Harper said.

"We hope to address this glaring statistic through collaboration and shared initiatives." 

The document identifies some of the best ways to approach the topic of cancer in Aboriginal communities, including research partnerships between Aboriginal health workers and non-Aboriginal researchers. 

During the event, which attracted politicians including State Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nick Wakeling, VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher talked about the importance of the partnership to the Aboriginal community.

"This is an important partnership because for too long we have seen higher rates of cancer and poorer outcomes among Victoria's Aboriginal community," Ms Gallagher said.

Ms Gallagher is a bowel cancer survivor and her story is part of Cancer Council Victoria's newest resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"Few people realise bowel cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Aboriginal people in Victoria. By sharing my own experience I hope to raise awareness of this disease and the importance of prevention and early detection," she said. "Today is about reducing the impact of all forms of cancer on the Victorian Aboriginal community and providing support to those living with this condition", she said.

Cancer Council Victoria's Cancer Screening Programs Manager Kate Broun highlighted bowel cancer as an area of particular concern.

"Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Australia - claiming the lives of 73 men and women each week regardless of their background.

It's a shocking statistic given that 90% of bowel cancers can be cured if found early," Ms Broun said.

Ms Broun encouraged all Victorians over 50 to take an at-home bowel cancer screening test called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).

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