HRICS 2026 Michael Kalimnios Memorial Funded Program (MK Program) Successful Recipients

The second iteration of HRICS MK Program is underway for 2026.

Michael served as Chair of HRICS Governance Committee for two years and was a passionate advocate for cancer services improvement in our region.
The Memorial Program enables health services to apply for funding to undertake small service improvement projects, training and education that will deliver meaningful improvements in systems and process supporting cancer care.
This year the program has seen significant growth and reach of our applications, expanding engagement across departments, including increased representation from Allied Health and participation from small rural and remote sites.
In March, ten successful MK Grant project recipients were announced and their projects as follows:
1. Let’s Yarn about it While We Can – My Wishes: A Guide for My Mob – Chronic Disease Team, Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS)
2. Automating Colonoscopy Quality Monitoring to Strengthen Oversight and Improve National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) Access –Endoscopy Service, Albury Wodonga Health (AWH)
3. Strengthening partnerships of Metro Regional Gynaecological Oncology Care – Cancer and Wellness Service, Northeast Health Wangaratta
4. Nourish and Navigate: Improving Nutrition and Swallowing Support in Head and Neck Cancer Patients – Cancer Services, AWH
5. Improving access to respiratory diagnostic assessment for rural and remote patients – Corryong Health
6. Enhancing Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) Safety Through Simulation Based Education in Regional Cancer Care – Cancer Services, AWH
7. Improving timely use of enteral feeding in high-risk cancer treatment – Nutrition and Dietetics Department, GV Health
8. Chemotherapy Accreditation and Cytotoxic Safe Handling: A Scoping Review to Inform a Standardised Approach – Paediatric Service, AWH
9. Understanding care needs and pathways for residential aged care facility (RACF) residents with advanced cancer in the Goulburn Valley – GV Hospice
10. Allied Health Cancer Care Education Program – Allied Health Department, AWH

HRICS look forward to supporting and seeing these innovative projects evolve.

For more information on our service improvement grants program please contact HRICS Project Manager, Virginia Mitsch: virginia.mitsch@humerics.humehealth.org.au

Last updated April 2026