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Frequently Asked Questions
| QUESTION: |
| What is the Cancer Institute NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
| The Cancer Institute NSW is a statutory body governed by the Cancer Institute Board, appointed by the minister for Health, the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt MP and the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), the Hon. Frank Sartor MP. |
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| QUESTION: |
| When was the Cancer Institute NSW Act passed? |
| ANSWER: |
| The NSW Government passed the historic legislation to create the Cancer Institute NSW on June 24 2003. |
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| QUESTION: |
| When was the Cancer Institute NSW formed? |
| ANSWER: |
| The Cancer Institute NSW was established in July 2003 through the Cancer Institute NSW Act |
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| QUESTION: |
| Why was the Cancer Institute NSW created? |
| ANSWER: |
| The Cancer Institute NSW was created in response to the need to further decrease the devastating impact of cancer on our society. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What is the purpose of the Cancer Institute NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
| The Cancer Institute NSW has the task of overseeing and accelerating the effectiveness of cancer control in NSW. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What does the Cancer Institute NSW do? |
| ANSWER: |
| The Cancer Institute NSW is charged with improving cancer control in NSW. It provides expert advice and resources to patients, the public, health care professionals and the Government. |
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| QUESTION: |
| How many Cancer Institute Board members are there? |
| ANSWER: |
| There are currently eleven Cancer Institute Board Members. The Hon Morris Iemma is Chairperson of the Cancer Institute Board. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Who are the Cancer Institute Board members? |
| ANSWER: |
The Board members are:
- The Hon Morris Iemma BEc LLB (Chairperson of the Board)
- Professor David Currow
Chief Cancer Officer and CEO
- Dr Tony Hobbs
GP obstetrician based in Cootamundra, NSW
- Dr Keith Cox OAM
nurse practitioner, oncology/chemotherapy at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA)
- Professor Robyn Ward
Professor of Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
- Dr Patrick Cregan
Nepean Hospital Specialist Cancer Surgeon
- Ms Liza Carver BEc, LLB LLM
Partner in Gilbert + Tobin law firm
- Ms Lucy Turnbull
Turnbull & Partners Pty Ltd
- Prof Peter Gunning
Head of the Oncology Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of New South Wales.
- Dr Paul Moy
Managing Director, USB Global Asset Management
- Mr John Stubbs BA Dip Acct
Executive Officer of Cancer Voices Australia
More information on the Cancer Institute board members |
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| QUESTION: |
| What does the creation of the Cancer Institute NSW mean to the health system? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW will coordinate and build on existing work in cancer control throughout the State. It will foster the free flow of information and collaboration between patients, clinicians, researchers, government agencies and the non-government sector. It will foster links with interstate, national and international bodies. The Cancer Institute NSW will proactively identify opportunities for innovation and facilitate the incorporation of these into the health system. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What powers does the Cancer Institute NSW have regarding health regulation changes? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW provides advice to the Government but does not have the ability to change regulations. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Who heads the Cancer Institute NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
The Chief Cancer Officer, Professor David Currow is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Cancer Institute NSW and leads the Cancer Institute NSW. The Chief Operating Officer, Ms Beth Macauley supports the Chief Cancer Officer in achieving the Cancer Institute NSW's objectives. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What is the background of the Chief Cancer Officer? |
| ANSWER: |
Professor David Currow holds the Chair of Palliative and Supportive Services at Flinders University. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Where is the Cancer Institute NSW located? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW is located at Australian Technology Park, Sydney. It provides a central location to foster collaborations between other research, health and cancer institutions throughout the state. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What are the objectives of the Cancer Institute NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
The objectives of the Cancer Institute NSW are to:
- reduce the incidence of cancer in NSW;
- increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with cancer;
- improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their carers; and
- become a source of expertise on cancer.
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| QUESTION: |
| Does the Cancer Institute NSW have a research component? |
| ANSWER: |
Research is an integrated component of the overall cancer control program. Research provides evidence that will drive improvements in survival, cancer prevention and in the quality of life of cancer patients. The Cancer Institute will promote excellence and collaboration in research. Substantial funding has been provided for competitive program grants, competitive career development grants, and for strategic research infrastructure. |
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| QUESTION: |
| How will the Cancer Institute NSW achieve its objectives? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW will use the NSW Cancer Plan in consultation with the NSW Department of Health and other key stakeholders to implement its key programs in the areas of:
- cancer prevention
- cancer screening
- cancer services and education
- cancer information and registries
- cancer research
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| QUESTION: |
| What does the NSW Cancer Plan contain? |
| ANSWER: |
The NSW Cancer Plan encompasses the full spectrum of cancer control activities, detailing how funding, research, cancer treatment, education and awareness can be effectively and efficiently delivered across NSW. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Who benefits from the NSW Cancer Plan? |
| ANSWER: |
Patients, families and carers; health professionals, researchers and service providers ultimately benefit from this initiative. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Where do the funds to operate the Cancer Institute NSW come from? |
| ANSWER: |
The main source of funding is the NSW State Government. |
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| QUESTION: |
| How much money is being committed by the State Government to ensure success of the Cancer Institute NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW receives $139 million per annum to fulfill its program responsibilities. This includes federal funding for the cancer screening programs. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What does the Cancer Institute NSW do with its funding? |
| ANSWER: |
The Cancer Institute NSW spends 95% of its budget on direct cancer related programs including research, education, prevention, screening, information and treatment. The remaining 5% is spent on administering the programs of the Cancer Institute NSW. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What is the cost of cancer to the NSW community? |
| ANSWER: |
The cost of cancer to the NSW community is extremely high. The NSW Government alone spends approximately $800 million each year on the prevention, management and treatment of cancer. In addition, the Australian Government in NSW spends about $200 million on cancer through general practitioners and other services. The social cost in terms of loss of productivity, death, and stress on patients, carers and families is immeasurable. |
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| QUESTION: |
| Where does cancer rate in the causes of death in NSW? |
| ANSWER: |
Cancer is the most common cause of death in NSW. One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Approximately 29% of our community will eventually die from cancer whereas 19% die of coronary heart disease and 9% die of stroke. |
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| QUESTION: |
| What does the Cancer Institute NSW believe to be Australia's most preventable cancer health problem? |
| ANSWER: |
Global estimates of the causes of cancer and behavioural risk factors put smoking, alcohol use, and poor diet and inactivity leading to increased weight and obesity as the most important causes of cancer in high-income countries with smoking by far the most important.
Smoking is Australia's number one preventable health problem and kills around 15,500 Australians each year and around 6,600 in NSW. |
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