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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Pathology technology at a crossroads
The CEO of Pathology Technology Australia, Dean Whiting spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Pathology Technology Australia’s key priorities in the coming years
– Current local capability in pathology technology compared to other countries
– How the health system supports change and adoption of pathology technology
– How pathology is perceived by the public and in government as well as how developments in pathology technology are followed and understood
– Observations in the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce ReportIn 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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Dental marketing insights from leading authority
Winning the Australian Dental Industry Award for Marketing has had a big impact to Dental Marketing Solutions. As Angus comments in closing, “Receiving the award is social proof to say, well, these guys must know something, because an independent body of their peers has assessed them and said”. He added, “Certainly it’s been good in terms of building our business.”
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Lower back pain presentations in Emergency Department
Around 70 percent of people will experience lower back pain at some stage of their lives.
A recent study conducted over five years found one in three people suffering from lower back pain presented to hospital via an ambulance.In many cases people will attend an emergency department when they feel they can’t manage their pain or when treatments by community healthcare services have been ineffective or inaccessible due to location or cost. However, 90 per cent of people can get better on their own in a few weeks.
