About Us
The North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (NEMICS) is one of nine Victorian Integrated Cancer Services(VICS) working in partnership with health services to facilitate coordinated and high quality cancer care, system integration and collaboration across their geographical areas.
The VICS have common responsibilities for implementation locally of key areas of the Victorian Cancer Plan 2020 - 2024 and the adoption of the optimal cancer care pathways.
NEMICS undertakes its role by consulting and collaborating with consumers, public and private health services, general practitioners, the community health sector and our funders, the Department of Health and Human Services.
Our Vision
Improving
patient experiences
and outcomes by
connecting cancer care
and driving best practice.
Our Region
NEMICS region covers the local government areas of Banyule, Boroondara, Darebin, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Nillumbik, Whitehorse, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges. It is home to approximately 1.5 million people (ABS 2018).
NEMICS has one of the fastest growing local government areas (LGAs) in Whittlesea, which grew 27.5% over the last 5 years, and one of the areas of the greatest reduction in population in the Mill Park area in north eastern outskirts.
The NEMICS population is 31% of the Greater Melbourne population and 23% of the Victorian population.
Partner Organisations
NEMICS network partners are four public health services: Austin, Eastern and Northern Health and Mercy Hospital for Women. These organisations are joined by a memorandum of understanding and provide governance for the network.
Private hospitals are an important part of the cancer care system. Across Victoria as many as 50% of cancer patients receive care in a private hospital. 10% of patients receive care in both public and private health services in a single year.
The private hospitals providing care to residents of the NEMICS region are:
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Epworth Eastern Hospital (Epworth Healthcare)
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John Fawkner Private Hospital (Healthscope)
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Knox Private Hospital (Healthscope)
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Mitcham Private Hospital (Ramsay Health)
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Ringwood Private Hospital (Healthscope)
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Warringal Private Hospital (Ramsay Health)
NEMICS is also building relationships with other providers of cancer care. These organisations include Primary Health Networks, Palliative Care Consortia, Primary Care Partnerships, research institutions and private providers of specialist care, such as radiotherapy.
Our Structure
Our work is governed by a Governance Committee and Consumer Reference Group.
Governance Committee
The NEMICS Governance Committee provides leadership and vision. Its key role is to support and provide oversight for the development and ongoing operations of NEMICS. It promotes and facilitates a sustainable model for collaboration and partnership between our stakeholders to achieve policy and strategic goals.
The Committee is comprised of health service CEOs, consumer and primary care representatives, and senior clinical and management representatives from each participating health service.
Current membership:
Mr Siva Sivarajah (Chair) | Chief Executive Officer - Northern Health |
Adjunct Professor David Plunkett | Chief Executive Officer - Eastern Health |
Associate Professor Paul Mitchell | NEMICS Director - Medical Oncologist - Austin Health |
Dr Andrew Weickhardt | Medical Oncologist - Austin Health |
Dr Frances Barnett | Director Oncology - Northern Health |
Dr Phillip Parente | Director Cancer Services - Eastern Health |
Dr Trish Hough | General Practitioner - Eastern PHN |
Dr. Simon Hyde | Head of gynae oncology - Mercy Health |
Mr Adam Horsburgh | Health Service Interim CEO and Host Agency - Austin Health |
Mr Jason Payne | Chief Executive Health Services - Chief Operating Officer - Mercy Health |
Mr Ray Kelly | Chair - NEMICS Consumer Reference Group |
Ms Cherie Cheshire | Director - Cancer & Neurosciences - Austin Health |
Ms Katherine Simons | NEMICS Program Manager |
Ms Maria Tucker | Divisional Director - Nursing - Cancer Services - Northern Health |
Ms Naida Lumsden | Deputy Program Director Women's & Children's Services - Mercy Health |
Consumer Reference Group
The Consumer Reference Group (CRG) is a key component of NEMICS governance structure. The (CRG) comprises nine people, each whom have a personal cancer experience and a passion to help improve outcomes for people living with cancer in this region.
Established in 2011, the CRG provides an opportunity for members to contribute to the decision-making process about service improvement initiatives overseen by NEMICS. This is achieved by:
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Providing advice to the NEMICS program office and Governance Committee regarding:
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Issues and priorities that would improve cancer services for people living within the NEMICS region
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Identifying strategies and initiatives to improve cancer services within the NEMICS region from a consumer perspective
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Planning, developing and assisting the implementation of consumer driven quality improvement projects. Projects will be identified by the Consumer Reference Group in response to an identified need and approved by the NEMICS program office.
Learn more about the work NEMICS consumers are involved with:
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A Common Path - cancer support advice videos
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A Common Path – cancer support advice podcasts
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Community Ambassador Program
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My Cancer Care Record
Current Membership:
“The cancer health system is a confusing place for consumers on entry and during treatment. No one enters this system voluntarily. Through my involvement as a health consumer representative and advocate, I hope to improve the experience and health outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer.”
Cindy Schultz-Ferguson - NEMICS Consumer Reference Group member
Mr Ray Kelly, | Chair |
Mrs Janine Rossely, | Deputy Chair |
Mr James Armstrong | Member |
Mr Ken Bottrell | Member |
Graeme Down | Member |
Mrs Anne Kay | Member |
Ms Rhonda Richards | Member |
Mrs Cindy Schultz-Ferguson | Member |
Mr Max Shub | Member |
Our Team
Please note that we are currently working offsite during COVID-19. All staff are contactable via email or general queries can be sent to
Name
A/Prof Paul Mitchell
Clinical Director
Contact Details:
03 9496 9924
Ask me about:
Please contact NEMICS staff for all queries
Name
Ms Katherine Simons
Program Manager
Contact Details:
03 9496 3322
Ask me about:
Please contact NEMICS staff for all queries
Name
Anna Mascitti
Project Manager
Contact Details:
03 9496 3261
Ask me about:
My Cancer Care Record, Community Ambassador program, Coordinated care project, Consumer engagement, NEMICS consumer reference group, VICS consumer engagement peer group
Name
Bernadette Zappa
Eastern Health Service Improvement Facilitator
Contact Details:
03 9895 3836
Ask me about:
Cancer services at Eastern Health
Name
Hugh Burch
Northern Health Service Improvement Facilitator
Contact Details:
03 8405 2005
Ask me about:
Cancer services at Northern Health
Name
Lori Cameron
Administrative Assistant (Mon, Wed, Thur)
Contact Details:
03 9496 3322
Ask me about:
All administrative matter
Name
Luellen Thek
Project Manager
Contact Details:
03 9496 3028
Ask me about:
Regional Service Planning
Name
Megan Dendle
Administrative Assistant (Tue, Wed, Fri )
Contact Details:
03 9496 3322
Ask me about:
Website and all administrative matter
Name
Nadia Ayres
Project Manager
Contact Details:
03 9496 3979
Ask me about:
OCP Head and Neck - Timely delivery of radiotherapy following curative surgery, OCP Pancreatic - Radiological synoptic reporting for classifying resectability in pancreatic cancer.
Name
Paula Howell
Project Manager
Contact Details:
03 9496 9968
Ask me about:
Prostate Cancer Summit, Survivorship, Supportive care & Care coordination
The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services are supported by the Victorian Government
© 2021 North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service
Contact Us
145 Studley Road,
Heidelberg, VIC 3084
P: (03) 9496 3322
F: (03) 9496 3898
The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
We are committed to safe and inclusive work places, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ communities and their families.