INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN PROSTATE CANCER CARE Movember funds three Australian programs targeting under-served populations
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Sarah Weller
Global Director – Prostate Cancer, Movember
Kris Bennett,
Director – Prostate Cancer Health Equity, Movember
Movember is committed to advancing new research, cutting-edge treatments, and healthy behaviours, and advocating for inclusive, gender-responsive healthcare that caters to the unique needs of men, women, and gender-diverse individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In doing so, they hope to forge a future where barriers to healthy living are overcome, stigmas are removed, and where everyone has an equal opportunity to live a long, healthy life.
Income, education, geographical location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender and sexual orientation, are only a fraction of factors that can negatively affect a person’s quality of cancer care. This is defined as the “equity gap” and it’s costing people their lives.
Timed to coincide with World Cancer Day 4th February 2025, Movember announced prostate cancer investment of $5.5 million. Eighteen grants (16 proposals and 2 community development grants) are slated to directly tackle inequities in prostate cancer care. The funding will be over three years with the grants spread across five countries – six in Canada, five in the United Kingdom, three in Australia, three in the United States and one in Ireland – each having a specific focus population and care area.
AUSTRALIAN FUNDING FOR TARGETED PROSTATE CANCER CARE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
– The prostate cancer mortality rate in remote areas is almost 20% higher than in major cities. Access to treatment is the leading cause. This equity gap is what the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia’s grant will address, to improve access to and use of prostate cancer treatment services in rural and remote areas.
– Currently, prostate cancer data on the culturally and linguistically diverse communities of South Western Sydney is insufficient. That’s the first roadblock to improving this historically overlooked group’s prostate cancer care. The George Institute for Global Health aims to fill in the blanks with population level data to help close this equity gap.
– Australian Prostate Centre will create culturally appropriate prostate cancer services and practices for the LGBTQIA+ community, to counter the fear of discrimination and stigma that often stands in its way of getting prostate cancer screenings and diagnoses.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Movember about these targeted outreach programs in Australia and the hope they will help provide education and empower historically and intentionally excluded communities, using community stakeholders and voices to build trust. Collaborations with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and community-based organisations will share resources and expertise to develop tailored solutions.
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Allied health flourishes in regional and rural Victoria
Genhealth Hamilton was established in 2015 in regional and rural Victoria. The practice offers a range of services including physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, exercise science, and group classes such as clinical reformer therapy and clinical Pilates in Hamilton, which has a population of around 10,000. The clinic also serves a wider community within 100 kilometre, reaching rural residents and local industries.
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Ready to unleash the potential of the pharmacist health workforce
Last week, Associate Professor Fei Sim the National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the peak body representing 39,000 pharmacists across Australia’s health system, spoke to Australian Health Journal about the release of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review. The review and final report sets out to create a clear pathway for health professionals to contribute more to our health system and practice to their full and top of scope.
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How I Became an Emergency Physician
Dr Kim Hansen was initially attracted to emergency medicine because of its dynamic and chaotic environment. She enjoyed organising the chaos of the emergency department and working with a variety of patients, from newborn babies to centenarians. Dr Hansen found it fulfilling to help people get better or provide them with assistance and guidance when they couldn’t be cured. The unpredictability of the work was also part of the appeal, and she dedicated herself to developing the skills required to be a good emergency doctor.
