Cancer Learning

The Cancer Learning online hub is an initiative of Cancer Australia and aims to:

consolidate the enormous variety of evidence-based learning activities, resources and information in cancer care available across Australia and overseas
provide a first port of call for health professionals, organisations and cancer networks who wish to undertake, build or plan professional development programs and activities in cancer care
enable resources and information to be shared by cancer care providers across Australia.

Cancer Learning is designed for health professionals working in cancer care. However the site may also provide useful information for consumers and some resources are designed to promote further engagement between consumers and health professionals. Consumers can play an important role in professional development activities by participation on committees and via other consumer advocacy pathways. For further information about how consumers can be involved in these activities please visit the Consumer Participation page.

The site was constructed by and houses the resources developed by two major projects funded through the Australian government’s Strengthening Cancer Care initiative:

The Office of Postgraduate Medical Education (OPME) is a national leader in developing and delivering innovative, research-led programs in professional health education. OPME is in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney.

COSA is the peak national body representing health professionals whose main work is cancer control. The overarching mission of COSA is to develop and maintain high-quality clinical care services for cancer patients in Australia, through the participation of professionals providing those services.

The EdCaN project is auspiced by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in association with other Australian cancer care institutions, universities and professional associations.

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) is Australia's independent national authority and information source on breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

The College’s mission is to improve health and wellbeing for all Australians by supporting general practitioners, registrars and medical students by assessing doctors skills and knowledge, supplying ongoing professional development activities, developing resources and guidelines, helping general practitioners with issues that affect their practice and development standards that general practices use as part of the accreditation processes.

As Australia's peak national non-government cancer control organisation, the Cancer Council Australia advises the Australian Government and other bodies on practices and policies to help prevent, detect and treat cancer. They also advocate for the rights of cancer patients for best treatment and supportive care.

Professional Development Packages Project

The aim of this project is to develop a national professional development framework and educational packages for cancer professionals, counsellors and general practitioners.

The project is being conducted by a consortium composed of five organisations, representing a broad spectrum of cancer professionals with expertise including evidence-based clinical care, supportive care, education and training.

Staff and members of the consortium have given generously of their time and expertise to develop the resources that are now available through the Cancer Learning hub.

The consortium comprises: the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia; the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre; the Cancer Council Australia; and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The project is managed by the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education (OPME) at the University of Sydney.

EdCaN

Working with nurses and other partners the national Cancer Nursing Education project (EdCaN) aims to provide a framework for the educational development of the nursing workforce. The framework will help address the needs of Australians affected by cancer and guide the development of educational resources and programs.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

guide the development of the nursing workforce for work in cancer control
articulate the capabilities expected of nurses working in cancer control
inform the development of learning resources to assist nurses to develop their capacity to contribute to cancer control efforts.

EdCaN is a four year project scheduled for completion in 2009. See the project website for further information at www.edcan.org