Aboriginal communities
Published 9 July 2018
The Cancer Institute NSW would like to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first Australians, and pay our respect to Elders, both past and present.
The NSW Cancer Plan aims to improve cancer outcomes across the community. It recognises that there are people or communities who have a higher risk of cancers and have poorer cancer-related health outcomes.
We acknowledge that Aboriginal people experience a higher burden of cancer with higher mortality rates[1]. We understand the importance of taking into consideration the social and cultural elements that underpin Aboriginal health when developing a program of work for Aboriginal communities that aims to reduce the incidence of cancer across NSW.
- Aboriginal Australians are 3 times as likely to develop liver cancer and are 3.3 times as likely to die from liver cancer as other Australians.
- Aboriginal Australians are 1.9 times as likely to develop and die from lung cancer as other Australians.
- Aboriginal females are 2.8 times as likely to develop, and 3.9 times as likely to die from, cervical cancer. They also have a lower chance of surviving another 5 years (51% compared with 67%) than other Australian females.
- Aboriginal females diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003–2007 had a 100% higher risk of dying by 2010 than other Australian females.
Achievement through collaboration
Improving the health of Aboriginal communities in relation to cancer will involve all parts of the cancer control system.
In partnership with Aboriginal communities across the state, our strategies will be implemented in line with state and national plans, frameworks and other policy directives relevant to Aboriginal health.
What we will achieve for Aboriginal communities
We are working across cancer prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and research to improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal people. Over the next 12 months, we will:
Implement the Cancer Institute NSW Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
The Reconciliation Action Plan demonstrates our commitment to reconciliation in the workplace by creating meaningful opportunities. It also strengthens respect and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and other Australians.
Continue to support cancer screening, prevention and treatment pathways
- Engage with Aboriginal ambassadors to support the delivery of cancer screening, early detection and prevention campaigns. For example, the BreastScreen NSW Aboriginal Engagement Project involved community events being held in Coffs Harbour, Orange and Campbelltown, where we partnered with local Aboriginal breast cancer survivors to champion breast screening.
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Inform Aboriginal women living in NSW about the changes to the National Cervical Screening Program.
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Develop culturally-appropriate information resources to support the Aboriginal population, such as banners, brochures and pamphlets.
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Develop a culturally-appropriate lung cancer pathway in consultation with 17 Aboriginal Medical Services across NSW. This will assist Aboriginal people to make informed decisions about their treatment.
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Promote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and Aboriginal Medical Services on Canrefer.
Continue to collaborate on the National Indigenous Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot
This is also known as the 'Alternative Pathway'. This project will develop a coordinated national approach to promote bowel cancer awareness and encourage screening. Indigenous primary health care services across NSW will also be engaged in the approach.
Visit Indigenous Bowel Screen external for further information.
Continue to support Aboriginal communities working towards improved cancer control
- We are improving services for the NSW Aboriginal Quitline. A female advisor is now available to work with pregnant Aboriginal women. We will implement the Aboriginal Quitline Engagement Strategy to increase calls and referral pathways to the Aboriginal Quitline.
- We are working across all areas of cancer prevention, screening, early detection, treatment and research to explore strategies that support primary care providers. The NSW Primary Care Strategy for the bowel, breast and cervical screening programs identifies Aboriginal people as a priority group.
Maintain engagement with Aboriginal communities to inform cancer control initiatives
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The Aboriginal Advisory Group continues to provide advice on data for projects. This is a joint collaboration with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council.
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We established the Aboriginal Program Development Committee to weave cultural integrity into our work.
Continue to build workforce capacity
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We will launch our Aboriginal Employment Strategy and our Aboriginal Scholarship Program in 2018. The Scholarship Program is a joint effort with a range of key stakeholders, including the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, the Poche Centre and NSW TAFE.
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We will deliver a statewide Aboriginal Cancer Forum in early 2018.
To learn more about cancer, treatment and support services for Aboriginal people, visit Cancer information for the community.
Quit smoking mini series
Owen Craigie and Timanu Tahu on how smoking impacts Aboriginal communities.
National Aboriginal Health Plans & Frameworks
NSW Cancer Plan initiatives for Aboriginal communities
Across each goal of the NSW Cancer Plan, specific initiatives have been developed to build on current relationships in partnership with Aboriginal communities, including:
- public education campaigns and support services to reduce smoking
- strategies to encourage participation in national cancer screening programs
- strategies to more effectively engage with the primary health care sector
- culturally-appropriate early assessment, diagnosis, surveillance and treatment pathways
- culturally-appropriate tools and resources that support Aboriginal people affected by cancer
- initiatives to better engage Aboriginal people in service planning and delivery
- culturally-appropriate methods of collecting patient-reported outcomes.
Progress of the NSW Cancer Plan is regularly monitored and evaluated. Find more information on the indicators used to track against the Plan's objectives.
Reference
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Cancer Australia 2013. Cancer Australia. Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia: an overview. Cancer series no.78. Cat. no. CAN 75. Canberra: AIHW.
Find bowel screening resources to help both health professionals and patients.
The Aboriginal Cancer Network Forum aims to bring together health professionals working to support Aboriginal people affected by cancer.
This eight part mini-series follows Owen Craigie and Timana Tahu, two Aboriginal former smokers and professional rugby league players.
This campaign engages Aboriginal women aged 18-69 to increase awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of Pap tests.
Aboriginal people in NSW have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than non-Aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal Cancer Partnership Program enhanced cancer care and cancer outcomes for Aboriginal peoples in NSW.
Early detection of breast cancer is key to survival and effective treatment—Aboriginal women are currently less likely to participate in this cancer screening program.
Having regular Cervical Screening Tests can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by up to 96%. A Cervical screening Test picks up early warning signs that can be treated before cancer develops.
Cervical cancer survival was lowest for women with comorbidity. There was no clear comorbidity-survival gradient for Indigenous women. Further investigation of potential drivers for the lower cervical cancer survival rates in Indigenous women is warranted.
This resource is a printable postcard to promote bowel screening. Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
