NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION (NBCF) OUTLINES PINK HORIZON RESEARCH STRATEGY AT BREAST CANCER FORUM Breast Cancer Awareness Month demonstrates integral role of NBCF in research and clinical support
Filmed in Brisbane, Queensland | November 2024
Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, Chief Executive Officer of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, leads an organisation dedicated to funding world-class breast cancer research in Australia. The Foundation has a bold vision of achieving zero deaths from breast cancer.
Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the foundation uses this time to raise awareness about breast cancer and its impact in Australia. It also emphasises the critical need for funding breast cancer research to improve outcomes.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation collaborates with researchers, providing essential funding while also engaging them, clinicians, and consumers to establish research priorities.
Australian Health Journal met with Assoc Prof Anderiesz to hear of the new 5 year Pink Horizon research strategy. Those with lived experience of breast cancer, along with researchers, clinicians, and other funding organisations, have contributed to the development of the foundation’s new five-year Pink Horizon research strategy. This ambitious plan aims to invest $125 million to accelerate research efforts towards the vision of ending deaths from breast cancer.
Recently, Assoc Professor Anderiesz presented at the Public Breast Cancer Research Forum hosted by The University of Queensland and the Translational Research Institute, where she highlighted the accomplishments of the National Breast Cancer Foundation over the past 30 years. During this time, the Foundation has invested over $200 million into more than 600 research projects across Australia, supporting 1,800 researchers at 120 institutes to advance impactful breast cancer research.
Professor Anderiesz believes it is essential for all members of the breast cancer community to consistently seek opportunities to raise awareness about the disease’s impact. This awareness should extend beyond October and include efforts to inform primary care physicians and specialists. Additionally, there is a need to promote groundbreaking research and advocate for changes in policy and care to improve outcomes for individuals affected by breast cancer.
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“Nurses can do more, should do more and now they will do more”, The Hon Minister Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health.
Advanced Practice Nurses comprise 9% of the total nursing workforce, with 26,000 clinicians Australia wide. However although highly skilled, they are under-utilised and constrained to the full scope of practice. The Australian College of Nursing believes this needs to change. Nurse led models of care in which Advanced Practice Nurses play a significant role in service provision, must feature in the future. ACN President Professor Christine Duffield FACN states, “It’s now widely acknowledged internationally that nurses can provide a clinical and very valuable service that’s better suited to the healthcare needs of some consumer groups.”
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The desire for primary care nurses to do more, be recognised and valued for the work they do
Denise Lyons is a highly experienced nurse with over 40 years in the profession, including more than 25 years dedicated to primary care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the United States in 1985 and, in 2012, became an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Australia. Currently, she serves as a primary care Nurse Practitioner in General Practice in Newcastle, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves the health and wellbeing of her community.
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Evolution of the pharmacy tribe
The past 18 months has shown the strength of Australian pharmacies in ensuring accessibility, credibility and maintaining rapport with the community to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, handle electronic prescriptions and looking to play an integrated role in aged care.
