VICS Cancer Survivorship Clinical Network
Join the VICS online for an insightful and empowering event dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and skills of health professionals in the critical area of cancer survivorship care.
This free webinar will provide valuable insights into the unique needs of cancer survivors and effective care strategies post-treatment.
Who should register
Oncologists, nurses, general practitioners, social workers, psychologists, and allied health professionals. Anyone interested in advancing their understanding and involvement in cancer survivorship care.
Date and time
Friday 30 May 2025, 9:30 am – 1pm
Location
Online (Microsoft Teams) – Shortly after you register in Eventbrite below, you’ll receive an invitation to a Microsoft Teams meeting on 30 May from the VICS Communications Manager (james.shirvill@austin.org.au). Please confirm in Teams/Outlook to add that meeting to your calendar. A link to join the webinar will be included in that invitation.
Agenda
Welcome
Justine Carder – Director, Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS)
Justine leads the networked paediatric cancer care system across the state of Victoria, helping to improve experiences and outcomes for Victorians affected by childhood cancers.
Consumer voice
TBC
VICS Cancer Survivorship Program overview
Frezsa Fulia – Project Lead, VICS Cancer Survivorship Program
Frezsa (she/her) is a dynamic project lead at Western & Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS, part of the VICS network), showcasing expertise in process improvement methodologies into cancer supportive and survivorship care initiatives across WCMICS health services. Frezsa’s blend of clinical experience, project management skills, and creativity enables the development of tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of people affected by cancer.
Victorian Long-Term Follow-up Program
– A model of care for childhood and adult cancer survivors
Heather Laing-Peach – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Long-Term Follow-up Program
Hannah Pring – Service Improvement Project Lead, PICS; Honorary Research Assistant, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
Heather provides best-practice long-term follow-up care to paediatric cancer survivors across Victoria. Working within the multidisciplinary LTFP team, Heather delivers coordinated and personalised care in partnership with The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital. Heather is passionate about supporting and educating children and their families as they enter the survivorship phase of their journey.
Hannah’s professional and research focus is on improving the psychosocial wellbeing and outcomes of young people and their families in healthcare settings. Hannah is a graduate of the Melbourne University Master of Youth Mental Health, where she undertook a qualitative research study with the MCRI to explore young people’s preferences for end-of-cancer-treatment care. Hannah utilised implementation science frameworks to translate these research findings to a new paediatric end-of-treatment model of care. In her professional roles, Hannah works on quality improvement initiatives to enhance survivorship care for Victorians affected by childhood cancer.
Gippsland Southern Health cancer survivorship model
– Person-centred care for South Gippsland Shire and surrounds
Tanya Cook – Cancer Survivorship Nurse, Gippsland Southern Health Service; and McGrath Cancer Care Nurse (Breast), Stomal Therapist and District Nurse, South Gippsland Hospital
Tanya has been a Registered Nurse since 1991. She has a Bachelor of Nursing; Graduate Certificate of Stomal Therapy, Continence and Wound; and Graduate Certificate of Breast Cancer Nursing. Tanya has worked in community nursing at South Gippsland Hospital in Foster, Victoria since 2000. Over many years, she has noted significant gaps in local supportive care for clients and their families diagnosed with cancer.
The importance of exercise in cancer survivorship
– Benefits of engaging in exercise, barriers and facilitators to participation, and strategies to encourage patients to increase their physical activity
Alexia Koutoulas – Project Officer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Alexia holds a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science and a Master of Clinical Exercise Science Psychology. She is accredited with Exercise & Sports Science Australia. With diverse experience in public hospital settings, Alexia has supported individuals across their lifespan –from adolescents and young adults to older adults. She is passionate about educating patients on the powerful role of exercise during cancer treatment and is committed to empowering them to feel confident and safe integrating movement into their lives.
Good Life Cancer Survivorship Program
– A program for effective self-management in cancer within a community health setting
Rebecca McIntosh – Senior dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre;
Good Life Cancer Survivorship project lead, healthAbility
Rebecca is an accredited practising dietitian with over 20 years’ experience across acute, sub-acute and primary healthcare settings in a variety of clinical, leadership and management roles. She has led multiple statewide cancer malnutrition and cancer survivorship care projects funded by the Department of Health and is a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Cancer Survivorship Executive Committee. In addition to her role in the Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department and Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre at Peter Mac, she manages the Good Life – Cancer Survivorship program at healthAbility (previously known as Carrington Health).
Latrobe Regional Health Survivorship Clinic
– Background, where we are now, referral sources, and activities in the patient appointment.
Jo Wilson – Cancer Survivorship Nurse, Latrobe Regional Health
Jo has worked at LRH for just over 6 years and took over the Survivorship Nurse role in November 2023. Prior to working at LRH, she was a paramedic in Western Australia. Jo decided to move to Melbourne and change career, completing a Master of Nursing Science in 2018. She discovered her passion for oncology nursing in 2019 and is now completing the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing – Cancer Nursing at Monash University.
Clinical Placement Program in Cancer Survivorship
– Enhancing knowledge, confidence and capacity of health professionals who provide survivorship care
Lin Chai – Project Manager, Clinical Placement Program in Cancer Survivorship, Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre
Lin has worked across various survivorship education initiatives, including facilitating webinars and programs for consumers, carers and their families, as well as professional development workshops for health professionals. Lin’s background is in public health nutrition and dietetics, with experience in project management in the higher education and non-profit sectors. She is experienced in delivering education programs, designing and analysing interventions as well as performing evidence-based advocacy. Lin is passionate about building local capacity and creating system change to improve the quality of care in cancer survivorship.