The Effective Cancer Communication (ECC) program teaches best practice communication skills to health professionals, non-clinical staff and volunteers working with people affected by cancer and other serious illness.
Through an experiential learning framework, our workshop participants explore and recognise emotional reactions to cancer and apply evidence-based communication skills to respond effectively and empathetically. Participants will practice and receive feedback on personal communication in a safe environment and build capacity to manage differing perceptions and expectations of patients, their families, and carers. Participants are also provided with tools and language to build trusting relationships that contribute to better health outcomes.
"Effective communication fosters patient autonomy within health services and enables supportive relationships with cancer patients and their families."
Our current workshops and webinars:
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Responding to emotions in cancer (4 hours)
A small group workshop for clinicians to explore emotional reactions to cancer, learn to recognise emotions and apply frameworks to respond through practise with a simulated patient.
Delivered by two facilitators, this workshop will give health professionals the opportunity to:
- Explore emotional reactions to cancer through learning with a simulated patient.
- Recognise emotions and apply frameworks to respond effectively.
- Be provided with tools and language to build trusting relationships for better patient experience and health outcomes.
Cost: $350
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Discussing difficult news (4 hours)
This workshop centres the practical, evidence-based framework of communicating difficult news in healthcare settings. Participants will have opportunities to practise real-life scenarios with a simulated patient.
Delivered by two facilitators, this workshop will give health professionals the opportunity to:
- Explore emotional reactions on receiving difficult news through experiential learning with simulated patient.
- Recognise verbal and non-verbal cues and apply framework to respond and refer effectively.
- Be provided with tools and language to build trusting relationships for better patient experience and health outcomes.
Cost: $350
Accredited with Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. 
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Effective Telehealth Communication webinar (1 hour)
This live webinar provides health professionals tools and language to minimise communication barriers and provide emotional support to patients through telehealth platforms, enhancing patient experience and health outcomes.
The live webinar is accredited with Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Cost: Free
Click here for all upcoming sessions
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Listen & Refer (6 hours)
Listen & Refer workshops are delivered to health services and other organisations where non-clinical teams and volunteers speak with patients or customers affected by cancer and other serious illness. Participants explore the impact of a cancer diagnosis on individuals and their families and are introduced to key communication strategies to recognise and respond with empathy, practicing these skills with a simulated patient/customer. Please contact us to find out more.
For further information:
To find out more information about any of these workshops or to discuss customising them to meet your team’s needs, please contact us at ecc@cancervic.org.au.
Effective Cancer Communication Alumni Portal - coming in 2024
Resources for ECC workshop participants to continue their professional development. Please contact ecc@cancervic.org.au for more information about the Alumni Portal.