About the VICS
Our purpose
The VICS are Victoria’s cancer service improvement network. We promote system integration across structural boundaries, collaborative approaches to evidence-based service development, and quality improvement at the local level to deliver better patient outcomes.
Our vision
Improve patient experiences and outcomes by connecting cancer care and driving best practice.
Our values
- Patient-focused
- Visionary
- Collaborative
- Analytical
- Respectful
- Committed to better.
What success looks like
We know we have delivered on the purpose and vision above when:
- the VICS are recognised as credible and trusted network partners in cancer care improvement
- the VICS have collaborated with our stakeholders to enable:
- consumer voices, experiences, and outcomes to drive health improvements
- cancer services to provide culturally appropriate and safe care
- equitable, optimal cancer care accessible to patients throughout the cancer pathway
- a cancer care system that embraces data-informed continuous improvement.
Enablers
- Statewide governance and accountability
- Data-driven decision-making and evaluation
- Partnerships and knowledge sharing
- Capability building and workforce development
- Innovation and continuous improvement.
Cancer policy in Victoria
The VICS strategy above directly supports the Victorian Cancer Plan, which identifies priorities to prevent cancer, increase survival, improve the experience of the cancer treatment and care system, and achieve equitable outcomes for all Victorians with cancer. The Victorian Government prepares a cancer plan every 4 years. Past impacts and ongoing initiatives enabled by the VICS are cited throughout the Victorian Cancer Plan for 2024–2028.
The VICS support and monitor implementation and performance, at statewide and local levels, of 2 key mechanisms that underpin the Victorian Cancer Plan: Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) and multidisciplinary team meeting (MDM) quality.
Many other organisations, agencies, and partnerships also support the Victorian Cancer Plan in different ways. The VICS connect these contributors with one another, with evidence to better inform service improvements, and with stakeholders in our shared goals – particularly people affected by cancer.
The Victorian Government’s Health Services Plan (PDF) report in April 2024 described ‘a roadmap for a more connected [health services] system with clear roles and responsibilities … enabling collective strengths to be harnessed, and innovation and best practice to be spread.’ The report cited the VICS as its example of a specialist service network that is already ‘demonstrating ability for collaboration across entity borders for service improvement’ (p.130).