New job vacancy: VICS Strategy and Business Manager

Visit our jobs page and click 'Statewide roles'

Jobs in the VICS

VCCC Lung Cancer Screening Symposium

Barwon South Western

On 23 May 2025, more than 250 people gathered online and in person for the VCCC Alliance Lung Cancer Screening Symposium, a landmark event ahead of the upcoming launch of Australia’s first national targeted screening initiative for lung cancer.

With over 30 speakers across seven sessions, the symposium brought together clinicians, researchers, policymakers, health service managers and patient advocates to build sector-wide readiness for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP).

BSWRICS proudly supported the event by funding ten places for local participants, reflecting our commitment to ensuring the Barwon South Western region is prepared for implementation.

Symposium Highlights

CEO Professor Grant McArthur AO opened the event, followed by a powerful Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Tony Garvey.

Federal and state representatives included: 

  • Jessica Pratt, Assistant Secretary, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
  • Professor Vivienne Milch, Medical Director, Cancer Australia
  • Dr Bridie O’Connell, Executive Director, Public Health, Victorian Department of Health
  • Ross Broad, Executive Director, Hospitals and Health Services

Mr Broad spoke about the importance of ensuring Victoria’s hospitals and clinics are prepared, noting particular attention is needed to address service gaps in regional areas. He also outlined how the state is working to integrate radiology and radiotherapy services into the program.

Key Themes with Local Relevance

The symposium explored a wide range of issues, many with direct implications for our Barwon South West region:

  • Equity of access: Prioritising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, rural communities and those with lower health literacy.
  • Operational readiness: NLCSP preparedness will need to focus on a whole of patient journey approach, across a range of providers, from primary to acute care, and with integration of models across public and private health providers.
  • Role of general practice: Ensuring GPs understand eligibility criteria and can smoothly refer patients via the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). Empowering GPs to lead conversations about risk, smoking cessation and screening participation.
  • Regional service models: Learning from other states’ experiences from proof-of-concept models.
  • Imaging and follow-up: Ensuring streamlined diagnostic pathways.
    Data and evaluation: The need to develop models and processes to integrate NCSR, strategic and operational data to guide monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

What Does This Mean for the Barwon South West Region?

BSWRICS is committed to supporting a coordinated and equitable rollout of the NLCSP across the Barwon South Western region.

Over the coming months, we will work with regional partners to:

  1. Convene a regional Project Advisory Commitee, with membership from stakeholders across the patient journey
  2. Liaise with GPs, Primary Health Networks (PHNs), imaging services and hospital networks
  3. Promote culturally safe, accessible outreach materials, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  4. Use local data and insights to support continuous improvement and effective implementation

To support this work, BSWRICS has funded a six-month regional project hosted by Cancer Services at Barwon Health. This project will focus on system readiness, referral pathways, and stakeholder engagement ahead of the July rollout.
Justin Ludowyk has been appointed Project Lead for this initiative. Justin brings extensive experience both clinically and in leading successful service improvement projects.

To stay informed about future education opportunities and NLCSP news, subscribe to our BSWRICS newsletters and follow us on LinkedIn.

 

Photo credit: Kathy Quade, WCMICS Program Director