Cancer Australia congratulates Kate Vines, Professor Deborah Bateson and Dr. Florian Honeyball, awardees of the 2024 Jeannie Ferris Award in recognition of their outstanding achievements in increasing equity of outcomes for people affected by cancer in Australia.
Category 1: Members of the Community
Kate Vines has been awarded in the Members of the Community category in recognition of her achievements in improving the lives of people with rare and less common cancers, both in Australia and internationally. Kate was first diagnosed with medullary thyroid carcinoma in 1991. Having lived with a rare cancer herself, Kate and husband Richard were inspired to establish Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) in 2012, a charity dedicated to rare cancers awareness and support.
Kate has demonstrated exceptional leadership as co-founder of RCA; an unwavering commitment to collaborating with government, industry, and stakeholders; and the championing of patient advocacy. Kate has made and a significant, positive impact as Head of Patient Care at RCA, providing support, guidance and information at for people affected by rare cancers and their families. Some of Kate’s key achievements at RCA include the co-founding of the annual CanForum, launch of the Vision 20-30 Report with the National Oncology Alliance in 2020, successfully establishing the Patient Treatment Fund – the first ever crowd funding platform to help patients raise money for treatment for individual rare cancer patients in 2014; and launch of the of the CAN.Recall app – a free tool which aims to help patients navigate the difficult time of diagnosis and medical consultations.
Category 2: Health Professionals and Researchers
For the first time, two joint recipients have been awarded for Category 2: Health Professionals and Researchers, with both nominees being of exceptional calibre and representing different areas of practice and strength.
Professor Deborah Bateson AM has been awarded in the Health Professionals and Researchers category in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding contributions as a clinician, researcher, educator, and advocate
Over 20 years, Deborah has demonstrated professional dedication and leadership in reproductive and sexual health; improving access to contraception and cervical screening services, and the mentoring of future gynaecological oncologists. Her innovative work in increasing equity of cancer outcomes includes improving cervical screening for women with disabilities in Australia. Deborah actively participates in the Australian Cervical Screening Guidelines Working Group and various national committees and co-leads the C4 Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control. Deborah’s international collaborations, including with Family Planning Australia, and Honorary Fellowship at the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, highlight her commitment to advancing reproductive and sexual health worldwide.
Dr. Florian Honeyball has been awarded in the Health Professionals and Researchers category for his demonstrated contribution to improving access to oncology services and cancer care for people affected by cancer throughout Western NSW, including those in from rural and remote areas, Indigenous Australians, and from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Florian’s outstanding leadership and advocacy led to the expansion of the region’s oncology department and the establishment of a comprehensive Cancer Centre for Dubbo in 2019; highlighting his commitment to increasing equity of cancer outcomes. Florian’s innovative efforts have led to the implementation of important initiatives for the region and increased access to specialist cancer services for remote communities, including outreach clinics to remote Western NSW communities, Remote Video Assisted Chemotherapy (RVAC), and the commencement of clinical trials in Dubbo, including the nation's first tele-trial in 2016.
The Jeannie Ferris Award was established by Cancer Australia in 2013, to recognise outstanding contributions to improving outcomes for women with gynaecological cancers.
The Award is named in honour of the late Jeannie Ferris, former Senator for South Australia who was passionately committed to raising gynaecological cancer awareness in Australia. Senator Ferris was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2005 and passed away in April 2007.
At the 10th Award event in 2023, it was announced that Cancer Australia would broaden the Award scope to recognise and promote the efforts of consumers, health professionals, and researchers in improving equitable outcomes for all Australians affected by all cancers. This change aligns with the Australian Cancer Plan, to accelerate world class cancer outcomes and improve the lives of all Australians affected by cancer.