We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past and present.
Every day around 5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are diagnosed with cancer1. Indigenous Australians have a slightly higher rate of cancer diagnosis and are approximately 40 per cent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians.2.
Cancer Australia is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to reduce the impact of cancer on Indigenous Australians.
We have a range of resources which provide information to support you and the work you do which you can find in the links to the left or below for convenience:
Act early for our Mob's health
Find out more here.
Latest resources
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A guide to implementing the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer (the Guide), is designed to support health services and clinicians in the planning and delivery of culturally safe and responsive cancer care. |
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2018 The Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer has been developed with the aim of reducing disparities and improving outcomes and experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. |
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This Quick Reference Guide provides guidance to health practitioners and service planners on optimal care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer, across the cancer continuum. |
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A handbook for Health Workers and Health Practitioners to help provide information and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with gynaecological cancers. |
Our work
Cancer Australia;s work includes:
- raising awareness of risk factors and promoting awareness and early detection for the community
- developing evidence-based information and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer and health professionals
- providing evidence-based cancer information and training resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
- increasing understanding of best-practice health care and support, and
- supporting research.
Our Journeys
The artwork ‘Our Journeys’ represents the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. The white dots are the journey of each individual; the patterned areas are the different landscapes and regions of Australia; and the colours are the different cancer types. Cancer Australia, as the leading agency shaping cancer control in Australia, is depicted by the central ochre meeting place which draws stakeholders together to share ways to improve cancer outcomes. The kangaroo prints and the fish leading to and from the meeting place represent the flow of information and engagement between Cancer Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Artist: Jordan Lovegrove, Ngarrindjeri, Dreamtime Public Relations, www.dreamtimepr.com
References
1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. Cancer in Australia 2019. Cancer series no.119. Cat. no. CAN 123. Canberra: AIHW.
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Accessed June 2020;