IMPERATIVE NEED TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER. ANZGOG Chair gives stark assessment on late diagnosis, limited treatment options and significantly low survival rates
With
Professor Clare Scott, Chair
Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) &
Clinician Scientist
WEHI The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research &
Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Women’s Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Australian Health Journal Talk
Filmed Online | April 2025
Professor Clare Scott, a pioneering clinician scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, also serves as a medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Her comprehensive training in medical oncology has fuelled her specialisation in gynaecological cancer, combining rigorous research with clinical trials to improve patient outcomes. With over a decade of involvement in ANZGOG, Australia’s foremost gynaecologic cancer research organisation, she is deeply committed to advancing research and saving lives.
ANZGOG’s values—excellence, impact, equity, collaboration, and openness—reflect the organisation’s dedication to transformative cancer research. Its strategic plan is designed around four comprehensive goals, aiming to initiate innovative, practice-changing gynaecological cancer research. This not only expands the reach of impactful studies but also ensures that research directly benefits the community, ultimately improving the lives of countless women affected by these cancers.
Ovarian cancer, a complex and diverse group of diseases, poses significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment. While high-grade serous ovarian cancer is often highlighted, other rare types also demand critical attention. With projections indicating over 1,800 Australian women will be diagnosed by 2025, and a startling survival rate of just under 50%, Professor Scott talks of the need to rally together to confront this pressing public health issue. Tragically, two-thirds of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, diminishing survival prospects further. As of now, around 5,300 Australian women live with ovarian cancer, facing ongoing challenges that necessitate urgent action and support.
In this Australian Health Journal Talk, Professor Scott talks in detail about the following –
- The incidence of ovarian cancer in Australian women and mortality statistics around advanced stage diagnosis
- The symptoms and why they get dismissed or misdiagnosed
- The challenges in access to screening, treatment and funding for research
She also delivers a message to the medical community and the Australian Government.
Source: Generative AI on transcript
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Practising to top scope of urology practice, advancing treatment & patient care through research
Michael is a urology nurse practitioner with a special interest in prostate cancer survivorship, and has worked in urology for the past ten years. Michael has completed the Prostate Nursing Care course at Latrobe University, Graduate Certificate of Health with a specialisation in Scheduled Medicines (USQ), and the Master of Nursing (Flinders) to become a Nurse Practitioner in 2024.
As a Urology Nurse Practitioner he divides his time between the Australian Prostate Centre and Western Urology.
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Paramedics seek team-based primary health care pilots
The Chief Executive Officer of The Australasian College of Paramedicine, John Bruning spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
New models of care proposed for paramedics
Paramedicine pilot program in the pre-budget submission
Scope of how paramedics can support General Practice, and guidelines on safety and quality
Current limitations experienced by paramedics needing to be addressed by Government
Other health priorities hopefully addressed in Federal Budget.In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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The Northernmost Pharmacist in Australia
Carli Berrill is a Co-Owner and Pharmacist of two pharmacies in Far North Queensland, including one on Thursday Island in Torres Strait, which is the most northern pharmacy in Australia.
Her role with the Thursday Island Pharmacy is to provide essential health and pharmacy services to 15 communities, including remote islands south of Papua New Guinea. The role for the community is the important ‘constant’ in being a trusted and familiar healthcare professional.
