GICS Celebrates 20 Years
We were so proud to host our 2025 Annual Forum on Tuesday 7 October
The evening provided an opportunity for us to look back and acknowledge the maturity of the GICS program of work and its vast array of achievements over the years.
Importantly, we acknowledged the valuable partnerships we have developed over two decades with our member health services, committees and consumers, to work towards better outcomes for people affected by cancer.
We would like to thank all our guests, including current and past GICS team members, who came from near and far, to join us in celebrating our 20 year history.
The Event Program listed below, summarises the topics discussed by our Presenters during the course of the evening which included video presentations showcasing our work.
Jane Auchettl
Master of Ceremonies
Jane has worked with Grampians Integrated Cancer Service (GICS) in a variety of work roles since 2014, and more recently with all nine Victorian Integrated Cancer Services known as the VICS.
Jane facilitated the evening introducing the key topics including ‘Celebrating 20 Years’, ‘Grant Programs’, ‘Consumers’, ‘Optimal Care’ & ‘Colonoscopy Access’.
Jane also led the fireside chat during the event with two of our GICS staff members, Fiona and Hannah.
Phil Catterson
Opening Address
Phil’s opening address reflected on the GICS team and their service improvement work in the Grampians region.
He shared that GICS, along with the broader VICS network, play a vital role in oncology health reform; their maturity, systems, processes and outcomes provide a blueprint to the health sector as we move into a new landscape of local health networks.
Phil discussed the new opportunities and work GICS has achieved during the 2024-25 period, the increasing reach / scale into the regions more rural and remote areas, whilst incorporating the lived experience of patients.
He confirmed that the presentations over the course of the evening should leave guests feeling well informed and inspired to reach out with ideas and suggestions of areas of improvement work.
Kerry Davidson
Celebrating 20 Years
Kerry, GICS Director, provided a historical overview of GICS, taking us back to 2005 when the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services were established with funding from the Victorian Department of Health to provide a platform through which improvements in cancer service delivery and patient care could be implemented for the populations they serve.
Today, our work is informed by the priorities of the Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028 and our Strategic priorities. We work in partnership with local stakeholders to identify, prioritise, design, implement and evaluate solutions that are informed by best practice.
Hannah Ryan-West
Our Consumers
Throughout the years GICS have valued and sought to include patient perspectives wherever possible to guide learning, identify priorities for improvement and shape solutions.
The evening provided an opportunity to thank the efforts and commitment of both past and current Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) members.
Hannah participated in the fireside chat where she discussed opportunities for our consumers to be involved in VICS statewide work and the CAG’s focus areas for the year ahead.
We also presented the key achievements of the CAG over the past 15 years in a video format – watch ‘Our Consumers’ video here.
Kath McCann
Implementing Optimal Care – Lung Cancer
GICS have led the local implementation of the Cancer Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) since their release in 2016. Since this time OCP implementation has been included within business as usual activities for the GICS team.
This work involves undertaking audits against OCP parameters to identify areas and priorities for improvement. Outcomes of this work have been focused on lung cancer, and improving and optimising the Grampians Health, Rapid Access Lung Lesion Clinic (RALLC) and the broader state-led ‘Lung Redesign’ project.
Watch the ‘Implementing Optimal Care – Lung Cancer’ video here.
Fiona Hodder
Implementing Optimal Care – Colonoscopy Access Project (CAP)
In 2023, GICS conducted an audit against OCP parameters for 31 colon cancer and 32 rectal cancer patients. This work drew the attention of the Department of Health, and GICS were invited to submit a project proposal for federal funding as part of the expansion of colonoscopy triage services.
Subsequently a 12-month project team has been established with work currently underway.
Fiona, the CAP Lead, participated in the fireside chat where she discussed key achievements to date, along with addressing the barriers and challenges of the project.
Dr Fletcher Davies
Closing Address
Fletcher, GICS Clinical Director, closed the evening thanking all who attended, particularly those who travelled significant distances. He also thanked the Dept. of Health (funding provider), our health service partners, committee members and GICS team members, and acknowledged the breadth of work GICS has undertaken over time.
Fletcher summarised the activities planned for the year ahead including, but not limited to, completing the Colonoscopy Access Project, establishing a local response to the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, facilitating the delivery of the Grampians Regional Cancer Centre Service Plan, implementing value-based person centred care in self-nominated sites and operationalising the recommendations arising from the VICS Head and Neck Optimal Care Summit.
GICS Launch the 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants
Kerry Davidson, GICS Director, proudly announced the launch of our 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants during the evening.
We were pleased to showcase some of the work our Grants Program has funded, as a video – watch below.
GICS Grant Programs
Annual Forum Captured
See images taken over the course of the evening, including photos of our timeline display, which outlined key events and milestones of the GICS team over 20 years.
Annual Forum Event Images are credited to: Terry Hope at Terry Hope Productions.
Guest Testimonials
As a previous GICS Director I appreciated the partnership work with clinicians and consumers, and their passion to make a difference. The GICS team is small, but supports such a lot of work across the region.
The enthusiasm that GICS bring to projects is one of the greatest contributors to their success.
Find working with GICS absolutely innovative...all GICS team members are wonderful!
Aboriginal Artwork
We’d like to highlight the beautiful aboriginal artwork proudly exhibited on the night that was created to mark the commemorative anniversary for the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) of 20 years: ‘Healing Journeys’ by artist Vegas Fitzmaurice, 2025.
