SMICS annual planning day: Better cancer care outcomes through strengthening partnerships and planning

In mid-February, the SMICS Team held our annual planning day.

Each year, this day gives us the opportunity to come together and reflect on the needs of our region, partner health services, and the priorities of the Victorian Cancer Plan. This helps ensure we remain best placed to support cancer service improvement and equity of access across southern Melbourne.

The theme for our planning day was energy and optimism — and our team certainly brought both to the table. We’ve got a big year ahead! Here are some of our highlights:

Multidisciplinary Meetings and Care

Improving MDMs remains a top priority as we continue to progress the VICS Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM) Quality Program throughout 2026 and beyond.

Supporting First Nations Peoples and People with Disability

In 2026, we are working to expand support for First Nations Peoples and for people with disability facing cancer in southern Melbourne through two new dedicated projects. We are still in the planning stage for these projects and will be excited to share more with our network as they take shape.

Cancer Survivorship

Survivorship continues to be a priority in 2025–2026. We are supporting two new pilot projects at Peninsula Health and Monash Health focused on testicular cancer, metastatic lung and breast cancer as part of the VICS Cancer Survivorship Program.

Data and Regional Insights

Data remains central to our work. Our team is undertaking several new service‑mapping and region‑mapping projects that will strengthen our understanding of cancer and care across southern Melbourne and help us plan, in collaboration with our partner health services, with even greater insight.

As always, we will continue to monitor and support service improvement, equity, and efficiency across our region.