News, Announcements and Patient Stories
Congratulations to our regional network member Goulburn Valley Health on receiving a grant recently as part of Cancer Australia’s “Partnership for Culturally Safe Cancer Care” program. In partnership with Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), GenesisCare Shepparton, Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Service (HRICS), and Murray Primary
The Regional Trials Network-Victoria is proud to be part of the pioneering Lead with Lived Experience: Enhancing Cancer Care Program, working with so many passionate consumers and colleagues in the Cancer Consumer-Led Research Partnership. The program brings together 21 diverse participants and 10 mentors, with more than half of participants from regional Victoria, including key
Congratulations to Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH)’s Research and Clinical Trial Unit for achieving another milestone recently. The recruitment of its first local patient to an international lung cancer clinical trial highlights the unit’s growth in capability, following another milestone earlier this year, when the Precision-ITS teletrial was opened in partnership with Peter MacCallum Cancer
Matteo S. Carlino, PhD; Bo Gao, PhD; Michael Michael, MD et alJAMA Oncology, November 13, 20252026;12;(1):39-47. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4721 Regional and rural cancer patients were able to participate in the MOST-CIRCUIT trial through clinical trial units within Regional Trials Network – Victoria (RTN-Vic) and the ReViTALISE immunotherapy program funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The data from this study support the use of
We warmly welcome Siobhan Stewart to the ReViTALISE project team as Business Development Officer. Based in Albury, Siobhan’s most recent role was as Regional Partnership Manager at Albury Wodonga Health, working with health services within the Upper Hume to identify and address local opportunities for collaboration. Prior to Albury Wodonga Health, Siobhan worked at Hume Regional
DAY 2 – 16 May 2025Strategic healthcare consultant Alison Evans led the Beyond ReViTALISE workshop on Day 2 of our Face-to-Face meeting. Where do we go from here? What are our key ambitions? How do we continue to improve clinical trial access to regional communities after the conclusion of the ReViTALISE project?There were some robust
DAY 1 – 15 May 2025Our first day began with a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to connect in person on the traditional lands of the Taungurung people. Attendees arrived from all corners of Victoria – consumers, clinicians, researchers, educators, partners and stakeholders – to share the achievements of each ReViTALISE initiative to date, and discuss
ReViTALISE is pleased to welcome Anna Dingle to the geriatric oncology team at Barwon Health. Anna brings her background in oncology nursing and research to her role as Geriatric Clinical Nurse Consultant. She will be involved in developing a model to introduce Geriatric Assessment within cancer services. Anna sees this as an important way we can
A warm welcome to our new Project Officer, Rebecca Kress. Previously at consumer-led not-for-profit organisations such as Ovarian Cancer Australia, Leukemia Foundation, and Counterpart (formerly BreaCan). she has worked with consumers to develop and provide access to high quality information and support for people and families affected by cancer. Inspired by this experience, Bec returned
A/Prof Craig Underhill, Dr Peter Eastman and Dr Heather Cameron presented on “Improving cancer outcomes for regional patients, bridging the gap in regional trials participation, and developing regional research capacity through @research” at a Barwon Health & Deakin University Research and Grand Round on 26 February 2025. Dr Eastman shared the achievements of the ReViTALISE
ReViTALISE has made great strides since its commencement in 2021. Overall, the program is tracking to plan, with strong collaboration and support demonstrated across and between the seven Initiatives. Led by regional, rural and remote professionals, all Initiative teams are willingly and frequently accessing the regional network to leverage knowledge, skills and expertise to enhance deliverables.
Coordinating Principal Investigator and Research Co-Lead Dr Monica Green, alongside Associate Investigator and Aboriginal Advisory Group Lead, Leah Lindrea-Morrison, are running a research study in collaboration between Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd, Goulburn Valley Health, and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).The study, “Lotjpa Yapaneyepuk (Talk together) about cancer trials:
Dr Stacey Panozzo has joined the ReViTALISE team as Consumer Liaison Coordinator. With over 12 years of experience in health services research, Stacey’s interests focus on improving access and service delivery of cancer and palliative care for patient groups who experience inequities in health care access. Prior to this role, Stacey had the privilege of working
Regional consumer Kathleen Wilkins has been actively involved in cancer consumer committees and steering groups for many years, first with the VCCC Alliance, and now with Every VoiceCAN, a consumer advisory network for the ReViTALISE project. “I wanted to give back. The care my husband received while going through throat cancer treatment was appreciated and we
Cancer can happen to anyone, regardless of where they live. Prior to the Regional Trials Network – Victoria and the ReViTALISE project, there were vast populations of regional Victorians living with cancer, not served by centres able to conduct clinical trials. For many, accessibility remains a real challenge, geographically and financially. The ReViTALISE project has
The ReViTALISE team recently attended the 2024 Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s annual scientific meeting at Gold Coast and delivered a symposium on Friday, 13 November. Each of the seven ReViTALISE initiatives had the opportunity to discuss their challenges and milestones, mid-way into th project. Leah Lindrea-Morrison opened with an Acknowledgement of Country and also presented
ReViTALISE is excited to be delivering a symposium at the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) at the Gold Coast on Friday, 15 November. Held in November each year, the COSA ASM is one of the most well-attended cancer conferences in Australia. In recent years, the ASM has featured “delegate-led“ symposiums
In the month of October, Victoria is celebrating the Victorian Seniors Festival, with a focus on changing what people think about ageing. As we get older, living a healthy, fulfilling life is the ultimate goal, while managing the potential health challenges that may come our way. Thinking about our older Victorians, we take this opportunity
Register on A-CTEC to participate in this important webinar on Thursday 7 November 2024, 12.30-1.30pm. The webinar will cover why it’s important to increase the diversity of participants in cancer clinical trials, as well as the barriers and facilitators to participation in clinical trials by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Discover strategies to improve
Bendigo Health’s annual Research Week will run from 14-18 October 2024 and provides a program of interactive sessions designed to support staff in understanding and undertaking research, with the theme ‘Improving Care, Changing Lives’. The highlight of Research Week is the Bendigo Health Research Showcase on Friday, 18 October, an in-person event. At the showcase,
The ReViTALISE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Trial Access initiative is proud to have Coordinating Principal Investigator and Research Co-Lead Monica Green, alongside Associate Investigator and Aboriginal Advisory Group Lead, Leah Lindrea-Morrison, present at the 2024 Ngar-wu Wanyarra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Conference, hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Department of Rural
Regional Trials Network Victoria welcomes Victorian Cancer Plan 2024–2028 16 September 2024 Regional Trials Network Victoria (RTN-Vic) has welcomed the Victorian Cancer Plan 2024–2028, tabled in Parliament last Tuesday. RTN-Vic executive team member A/Prof Craig Underhill welcomes the focus in the plan on addressing equity and collaboration across regional Victoria. “The Victorian Cancer Plan 2024–2028 highlights the important
Job: Consumer Liaison Coordinator – Border Medical Oncology Research Unit This exciting opportunity will suit an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual, who works well in a team and is committed to consumer engagement and consumer-led approaches to research and practice. You will: Support the development and implementation of consumer engagement strategies as part of the broader consumer
Download the January 2024 RTN Newsletter A look at RTN-Vic’s acheivements for 2023, and what’s next for 2024. Download
Download the July 2023 RTN Newsletter The news from the Annual Face to Face at Creswick, Recruitment Updates for the RTN-Vic, Mildura’s opening and more. Download
New Sites In The SpotlightMBPH Aboriginal Artwork Launch. Peter Peterson’s work on the hospital ceiling. Picture: Krystal Torney The Regional Trials Network- Victoria welcomes new sites Mildura Base Public Hospital and Latrobe Regional Hospital to the Network. The Project Team had the opportunity to visit Mildura Base Public Hospital in May and were blown away by
COVID-19: Viral Effect on Clinical TrialsThe onset of the COVID-19 virus has simultaneously affected each country and each industry and is challenging us all to seek alternative and innovative ways to continue business-as-usual activities. Clinical trials remain an essential component of Oncology patient care and each site is proactively addressing how to support trial activity under
Grant Funding: Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) The 2019 Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure grant opportunity provides between $5 million and $100 million for new and innovative approaches to enhance and improve clinical trial infrastructure, to extend existing clinical trials into rural, regional and remote areas of Australia. The RTN is submitting an
RTN DEVELOPMENT DAY:Regional collaboration The RTN Annual Development Day was held at the VCCC on Friday 18th October 2019 with representation from Ballarat, Barwon, Bendigo, Border and Goulburn Valley Health.This was a great opportunity for Unit Managers and Study Co-ordinators to meet and share opinions and ideas. Attendees received an overview of the skilled internship program,
RTN PROJECT MILESTONES: ON TRACKThe RTN Annual Progress Report was submitted to the Cancer Council Victoria in June 2019 with the following project outcomes achieved:A central repository of all RTN site feasibility information. Data is available in real-time with access to feasibility status at each site. Sites can request bespoke reports and metricsImplementation of the
