A handbook for Health Workers and Health Practitioners to help provide information and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with gynaecological cancers.

This handbook has been written to help health professionals support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with breast cancer. Increasing the understanding of breast cancer may help to encourage earlier investigation of symptoms, and contribute to the quality of life of people living with breast cancer. This handbook has been written for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Liaison Officers involved in the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with breast cancer in community and clinical settings.  

The guide assists health professionals in the delivery of culturally safe and responsive cancer care.

Document status: Superseded. Please visit Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: Second edition

This resource is 5 years or older. It includes data or research findings at an earlier point in time and is available to the public for research and reference purposes. This community education resource has been developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to conduct a Women’s Business Workshop. The workshop promotes the importance of awareness and early detection of breast and gynaecological cancers. Note: The National Cervical Cancer Screening Program has changed. From 1 December 2017, the two yearly Pap test has been replaced with a new five-yearly Cervical Screening Test. To learn more about the Cervical Screening Test, see information on the National Cervical Screening Program website.

This resource has been designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners to conduct an Our Lungs, Our Mob workshop for community members. The workshop aims to increase awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer and the benefits of early diagnosis. This resource has all the neccessary tools to organise and conduct an Our Lungs, Our Mob workshop. This includes the following, which are provided electronically on a USB: presenter's notes, a powerpoint presentation, workshop posters and invitation, activity cards and evaluation forms. A DVD with the personal stories about lung cancer is also included.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework (the Framework) provides high-level guidance and direction for the many individuals, communities, organisations and governments whose combined efforts are required to address disparities and improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This Framework is designed to complement and enhance national, jurisdictional, regional and local efforts to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes, including cancer plans and related policies, frameworks and action plans. It sets out priority areas for action, and allows the flexibility for jurisdictions, communities and organisations to address those priorities in ways that suit their local context and local needs. This Framework encompasses the full continuum of cancer control, including cancer prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care and survivorship; and the policy, systems, research and infrastructure that surround these service areas.

Cancer Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the years 2015-2018  promotes our commitment to reconciliation and will contribute to our work in addressing the gap in cancer outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Cancer Australia’s Reconciliation vision is to recognise and respect the cultures, histories and dignity of this country’s first peoples, and to use our knowledge and influence to help close the gap on cancer outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Indigenous Australians.

The handbook provides information about the lung cancer journey including symptoms,  treatment options and after-treatment care. It has been written for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Liaison Officers involved in the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with lung cancer in community and clinical settings. The handbook may also be used as a reference tool by: nurses and other allied health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people students undertaking the general cancer unit as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker qualification