NEWS
October 2014
Austin Health welcomed
as new VCCC member
Professor
Richard Larkins AO
(Chairman)
The VCCC Board welcomes Austin Health
as a full VCCC member, and Austin Health
CEO Dr Brendan Murphy as a Board
Member. The inclusion of Austin Health
brings the VCCC membership to nine
organisations.
The VCCC Cancer Program development continues with the Western &
Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS). The WCMICS
Governance Committee and the VCCC Board have endorsed a joint
discussion paper that outlines how VCCC and WCMICS will work
together on future clinical quality-improvement initiatives. A brief
strategic plan will now be developed. In broad terms, VCCC will focus
on generating research, reviewing the evidence base and providing
analysis, and WCMICS will provide the implementation program based
on this and other evidence to promote system-wide improvement
(see figure).
VCCC
Prevention and early
detection
Cancer services and
Clinical Audit
tumour stream
and Quality
development
Improvement
Research and industry
Program
engagement
Education and training
Information and analysis
WCMICS
Integrated and
patient-centred care
Information management
and technology
Supportive care
Survivorship and
follow-up
Patient surveys
Clinical audits and analyses
Clinical implementation programs
Health services research
Shared-care models
Conferences and events
Data sharing and analysis
Figure
VCCC/WCMICS relationship and joint programs
This message follows the
October 2014 Victorian
Comprehensive Cancer
Centre (VCCC) Board meeting,
and summarises the topics
discussed by members and
other important news.
Psycho-oncology
conference a success
The Second Victorian Psyc
ho-Oncology
Research Conference
Psycho-oncology Across
Friday 5th September 2014
8:30am – 5:00pm
Walter and Eliza Hall
Institute of Medical Resea
rch
Level 7 Lecture Theatre
1G Royal Parade, Parkvi
lle
VIC 3052 Australia.
Refreshments and lunch
provided.
Networking drinks after
the event.
Registration
Early bird rate – closes
31st July:
full $60
student - $30
Standard rate – closes 3rd
Sept:
full $90
student - $50
the Lifespan
International Speakers
James Coyne
James C. Coyne is Professo
r of Health Psychology,
at The University of Groninge
Medical Center and Professo
n
r Emeritus of Psychiatr
y, University of Pennsylv
he was also Director of
ania, where
Behavioural Oncology
Research, Abramson Cancer
critical commentaries have
Center. His
challenged whether psychoso
survival of cancer patients,
cial intervention extends
the
whether distress and depressio
patient outcomes, and
n screening programs
whether meta analyses
improve
of
behaviou
professional organizations
ral medicine commissioned
are valid and credible.
by
http://www.victorianccc.o
rg.au/
VCCCVictorianPsychoOnc
ology
ResearchConference
Enquiries:
Fiona Macken
[email protected]
du.au
(03) 9035 8170
Note: Program may vary
due to speaker
availability
Tom Hack
Tom is a clinical psycholo
gist and Professor in the
Faculty of Nursing at the
Manitoba. He holds a Canadian
University of
Breast Cancer Foundati
on Chair in Psychosocial
Supportive Care Oncology
and
Research. He has conducte
d the largest consultat
studies to date. Professo
ion recording
r Hack is a Visiting Professo
r at the University of Central
Preston, UK. He received
Lancashire,
the Queen’s Golden Jubilee
medal in recognition of
his research.
Christopher Recklitis
Christopher is Assistant
Professor, Department
of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical
Director of Research, Perini
School and
Family Survivors’ Center,
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
interests include quality-of
His
-life and psychiatric morbidity
in adolescents and young
and assessing mental health
adults,
outcomes and promotin
g health behaviors in oncology
Among his many current
projects, Christopher is
patients.
developing interventions
and promote sun protectio
to
treat
insomnia
n in childhood cancer survivors
self-report measures of
and investigating the validity
anxiety and depression
of
in adolescent and young
adult cancer survivors.
National and Local Speakers
:
Bettina Meiser, University
of New South Wales.
Bianca Devitt, St Vincent’s
Hospital, Melbourne.
Chris Steer, Border Medical
Oncology, Albury Wodonga
.
Ingrid Winship, Melbourn
e Health.
Maria McCarthy, Murdoch
Children’s Research Institute,
Royal Children’s Hospital,
Phyllis Butow, University
Melbourne.
of Sydney and PoCoG.
Sarah Drew, Centre for
Adolescent Health, Royal
Children’s Hospital, Melbourn
e.
This year, the VCCC is
proud to support the Psycho-o
Concept Development
ncology Co-operative Research
Workshop in Melbourn
Group (PoCoG)
e on the 4th Septembe
Psycho-oncology Research
r 2014 in conjunction with
Conference. For further
the
information on the workshop
attend, please click here
http://www.pocog.org.au/co
and how to apply to
ntent.aspx?page=cdw
Jointly auspiced by:
Supported by:
Themed ‘Across the lifespan’, the
conference included presentations on
topics such as children, adolescents
and young adults; genetic predisposition
to cancer; and gerontology. The day was
rounded out with a stimulating panel
discussion debating whether screening
for distress in cancer patients — which
is recommended in Victoria — was a
necessity, or adds little more to a wellperforming healthcare system.
In 2014, 260 people attended, including
four high-profile international speakers.
This was a huge increase on 2013s
attendance — demonstrating the
growing interest in and calibre of the
event. This year’s delegates represented
76 organisations, many of whom were
from interstate, including from Western
Australia, Tasmania, Queensland,
New South Wales and South Australia.
There were also some delegates from
New Zealand.

A post-event evaluation showed that
overall satisfaction was rated at 4.6 out
of 5, and the vast majority of attendees
stated that they would return to the
event. The evaluation also revealed that
most delegates would like the event to
be held annually.
2
The Cancer Research Advisory Committee, and the Cancer Education
and Training Committee have been working to further integrate
research and education into clinical tumour streams.
The VCCC Board has agreed, in principle, to pilot further development
of the integration of research and education into tumour streams. The
pilot would develop new roles with leads responsible for integrating
research, implementing quality review and developing an education
framework in clinical tumour streams. The implementation of this
concept will be developed for the next board meeting.
Chris Nelson
Chris is a clinical psycholo
gist who is the psychiatr
y liaison to Memorial Sloan
65+ Program. He provides
Kettering’s
psychological support
to older cancer patients,
research exploring effective
while conducting
ways to identify depressio
n in older cancer patients
developing psychotherapy
and
strategies specifically focused
patients. Chris also works
on the unique needs of
these
closely with the Centre’s
genitourinary and sexual
medicine services.
The second Victorian Psycho-oncology
Research Conference was held on
5 September at the Walter and Eliza
Hall Institute of Medical Research. This
year’s event was jointly auspiced by
the VCCC, WCMICS and the Paediatric
Integrated Cancer Service (PICS),
and was supported by the University
of Melbourne (UoM) and the PsychoOncology Co-operative Research
Group. In addition, sponsorship from
ONTrac@PeterMac and CanTeen was
gratefully received.
Registrations forms are
available at:
Tumour stream development
Leaders in Cancer program
Chair in Cancer Health Services Research
Candidates for the Chair in Cancer Health Services Research have
been interviewed and an appointment will announced shortly.
Additional senior research fellowships in health economics,
biostatistics and epidemiology are being developed to quickly establish
a new research program — the VCCC Centre for Cancer Health
Services Research. So far, UoM has provided $1.2 million to this
program, with additional support from Western Health.
Professorial appointment in cancer nursing
The UoM School of Nursing and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
have supported the VCCC development of a professorial appointment in
Cancer Nursing. The successful candidate will be announced shortly.
VCCC Genomics and Personalised
Medicine Program
This program, under its Chair Professor Grant McArthur, has recently
made funds available to support VCCC projects in the area of cancer
genomics and personalised medicine. The applications for this funding
are currently being reviewed by a group of external reviewers.
In addition, the VCCC Molecular Tumour Board and Whole Exome
Sequencing Feasibility Study have been refunded for another
12 months. To date, tissue samples from 15 patients have been
sequenced.
Education and training development
A Cancer Education Portal framework is currently being designed. In
the first instance, the portal will address needs of the research student
community, as documented by the recent PhD experience study. It will
link to education resources and provide information on the Masters
programs.
An information brochure and project summaries have been created
to promote research training opportunities at the VCCC. These will be
distributed during the annual Graduate Recruitment Fair at Tsinghua
University, China, in October 2014.
The education framework for tumour streams will be further developed
by the Cancer Education and Training Committee.
Progress on
implementation of the VCCC
Communications Strategy
The VCCC Communications Strategy strongly emphasises
a VCCC brand to endorse each partner and the VCCC as
a partnership. The brand strategy should enable further
collaboration within the VCCC partnership. The VCCC
communications committee had been reinstated and, during
the past few months, has been working on a VCCC brand
strategy with the support of the external brand agency Truly
Deeply. Truly Deeply has conducted extensive interviews with
VCCC stakeholders. A key finding from this stakeholder review
was the support for the concept of ‘partners’ or ‘partnership’
to characterise the VCCC.
The VCCC brand strategy and accompanying templates for
members will underpin a significant portion of the overall
VCCC communications objectives. Specifically, a brand
strategy will help to:
• implement consistent referencing to the VCCC and the
partner organisations by each member
• improve communication across the VCCC partner
organisations
• develop a consistent message for the VCCC partnership to
position it as a leader in cancer care
• establish a recognisable visual identity for the VCCC as an
endorsing and endorsed partnership.
The Board endorsed a next step to provide templates for each
partner organisation to use. These will be available by the
end of October. This will include material for each partner to
include on their website and intranet.
VCCC-Picchi Award
for Excellence in
Cancer Research
Dr Matthew Hong receives the VCCC-Picchi
Award for Excellence in Cancer Research from
Mr Joseph Lukaitis, Chairman of the Picchi
Brothers Foundation Board.
VCCC Project update
The external structure of the building
is nearing completion (‘topping out’)
and, as is tradition on these occasions,
key project delivery staff from member
organisations, consortia and state
government were invited to sign the
final beam on-site. The beam was one
of the facility’s exposed skylight atrium
beams. The topping out signified the
facility reaching its highest point of
72 metres above ground.
At an event on Sunday 12 October, the
Premier Dr Denis Napthine, Minister
for Health David Davis and guests
celebrated this milestone and watched
as the final beam was lifted into place.
Beam signing (l–r): Frank Domantay (a volunteer business and corporate
consultant at Peter Mac, and a cancer survivor), Dominic Wilson-Ing,
Kerrie Jarman, Emeline Ramos, Kathy Campbell, John Seymour, George
Morstyn, Zeus Villanueva

The second linking bridge is due to
be installed in December. It will be
double storey, and will connect levels
6 and 7 of the south and north sides of
the building. Work continues to focus
on completing the building’s façade
and complex fit out, which will see us
through to operation in 2016.
3
University research
review
Prof Jim Bishop led the submission with
extensive input from the Cancer Theme
Group to the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry
and Health Sciences (UoM) Research Review.
Prof Bishop and Prof Melissa Southey
appeared before the International Review
Panel (IRP) on Monday 15 September. The
IRP will now critically assess and provide
feedback on the submissions from nine
theme groups in key research fields.
The Cancer Theme Group’s submission
outlined a strategy for the further
development of cancer research and
education at UoM. It proposes that the
faculty:
• establish the Melbourne Centre for
Cancer Research (MCCR) as a university
centre that is headquartered in the VCCC
building, but networked across all UoM
schools and departments
• invest in a number of internationally
outstanding cancer researchers who will
occupy the laboratories in the UoM space
of the VCCC facility
• support the development of the research
and education program of the VCCC
tumour streams by investing in worldclass clinician–scientists in the roles of
Lead Research Clinician for each tumour
stream.
Prof Bishop acknowledged the valuable
contributions of the Cancer Theme Group
(Prof Melissa Southey, Prof Andrew Roberts,
Prof Geoff Lindeman, Prof Jon Emery, Prof
Joe Trapani, Associate Professor Penny
Schofield, Prof Mark Jenkins, Prof Graham
Taylor, Dr Mark Dawson, Assoc/Prof Lynette
Joubert, Prof Linda Denehy, Assoc/Prof Kate
Drummond) and the support of the broader
cancer research community who attended
‘town hall meetings’ or assisted in preparing
the submission.
Breast cancer researcher
wins prize for clinical trials
research excellence
Professor Michael Green, winner of the Alan Coates Award
Professor Michael Green has been awarded the Alan
Coates Award for excellence in clinical trials research
by the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials
Group (ANZBCTG).
Professor Green is the Director of Cancer Services at
Western Health and a consultant medical oncologist with
the Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology at
the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He has a long association
with both the ANZBCTG as well as its international partner
the International Breast Cancer Trials Group (IBCSG), on
whose board he sits as a director. The ANZBCTG research
program brings together more than 700 researchers in
87 institutions in Australia and New Zealand. Professor
Green has been involved in several clinical research trials
that aim to introduce new treatments for breast cancer
patients, including several world-leading research projects
on new, ‘first-in-man’ treatments. Several hundred
patients have had the opportunity to participate in these
trials. Professor Green said he believed the quality of any
clinical program could be assessed by its participation
in a clinical research program. ‘The award which I
received is a tribute to a great University of Melbourne
Alumnus, Professor Alan Coates, and acknowledges a
multidisciplinary research team of leading surgeons,
radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists
and nurses working across two University of Melbourne
teaching hospitals: the Royal Melbourne and Western
Health,’ he said. ‘I am privileged to have great mentors at
both these hospitals as well as colleagues who share their
skills and knowledge freely. Any of them would merit this
distinction.’

Source: Daryl Holland, MUSSE
4
Upcoming events
Tuesday 28 October —
Austin Health
Smallwood Oration
Monday 24 November —
VCCC and UoM public seminar
on cancer prevention
28 Oct
Professor Richard Kefford AM, Director Westmead
Institute for Cancer Research, will deliver this year’s
annual Smallwood Oration. The public lecture honors the
immense contributions made to Australian medicine and
Austin Health by Prof Richard Smallwood AO. Professor
Kefford’s presentation is titled ‘D-day for cancer: at what
cost?’ The event will be held at Austin Health on Tuesday
28 October at 5.30 pm (John Lindell Lecture Theatre,
Studley Road, Heidelberg).
Professor Graham Colditz, Deputy Director of the Institute
for Public Health at the Washington University School
of Medicine, and Associate Director for Prevention and
Control at the Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center, St Louis,
United States, will give a public seminar in association
with the Melbourne School of Population and Global
Health on Monday 24 November at 12.30 pm.
Prof Colditz was this year’s recipient of the ASCOAmerican Cancer Society Award. He is an internationally
renowned epidemiologist and public health expert with a
longstanding interest in cancer prevention research. He
has conducted award-winning research into the effects
of smoking, weight and weight gain, physical activity, diet,
and certain medications on the risk of developing breast
cancer. He currently leads transdisciplinary research
studying the associations between obesity and cancer
causes, prevention and survival, as well as a program that
uses community-based partnerships to reduce disparities
in cancer prevention. With the American Cancer Society,
he is working to apply research findings in cancer
prevention to broader population programs.
All are welcome to attend; please RSVP to
[email protected].
Pink Ribbon Breakfast
2.
Stakeholder logos and the visual
24 Nov
Details of the venue will be advertised soon at
http://pgh.unimelb.edu.au/.
identity
A ‘logo strip’ has been developed for project specific external-facing marketing collateral, specifically:
• communityupdates
•
2.externalreports
Stakeholder
• kitfolders.
logos and the visual identity
A ‘logo strip’ has been developed for project specific external-facing marketing collateral, specifically:
The
logo strip is to be used in conjunction with the VCCC Joint Venture visual identity and only in
• communityupdates
instances
where the VCCC Joint Venture logo is placed in a prominent position on collateral (refer to
• externalreports
• kitfolders.
template
examples
masthead
and external
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CEO
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report covers and kit folders.
See the example below for the order in which the logos should appear and the versions of each logo
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Contact us
Where the VCCC Joint Venture visual identity does not appear on an item of collateral, the logo strip is
not to be used.
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
PO Box 2148, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic 3050
Level 3, 766 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Vic 3000
t: +61 3 8344 8708
e: [email protected]
website: http://victorianccc.org.au
twitter: @CancerVCCC