Strengthening Culturally Responsive Cancer Care Across the Hume Region- Regional Approach

Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Service has partnered with GenesisCare, Goulburn Valley Health and Northeast Health Wangaratta to improve culturally responsive cancer care for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities across the Hume region.

This project was developed in response to findings from the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) Optimal Care Summit consultation for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, which highlighted opportunities to strengthen culturally responsive cancer care and improve equity of access across health services.

People from CALD communities can experience barriers when accessing cancer care, including communication challenges, navigating the health system, and accessing culturally appropriate information and support. Understanding current practices and identifying opportunities to improve culturally responsive care is essential to ensuring equitable access and patient-centred care.

Using a redesign methodology, the project will incorporate quantitative and qualitative approaches, including service mapping, stakeholder consultation and consumer engagement, to understand current processes, practices and resources across participating health services. Findings will identify strengths, variations in practice, gaps and opportunities to inform future service improvements and strengthen culturally responsive care.

The project is currently in the diagnostic phase, with findings informing the development of prioritised recommendations to support future service improvement initiatives.

For more information, contact:

Monique Beecroft – Monique.Beecroft@gvhealth.org.au

Last updated: August 2026