 |  | A MESSAGE FROM DR KALINDA GRIFFITHS "We have a proud history of getting up, standing up, and showing up." |
As we enter another NAIDOC week, it is time to reflect and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in cancer control and healthcare. This year’s theme Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! acknowledges the history of sustained activism in this country.
We have a proud history of getting up, standing up, and showing up. From the frontier wars and our earliest resistance fighters to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities fighting for change today—we continue to show up. We cannot afford to lose momentum for change. | | |
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Latest News |  |
 |  | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE An opportunity to reflect, engage and be inspired |
NAIDOC Week provides the perfect opportunity for us as a society to reflect, engage and be inspired by First Nations people. In equal measure it’s a chance for us to recalibrate and align our efforts in striving for greater equity in cancer care and outcomes.
Our First Nations peoples experience inequities at every point of the cancer continuum, and these inequities are cumulative in effect. Therefore, system change that challenges the status quo at all levels is what’s clearly required to drive measurable gains and ensure our trajectory towards even greater equity for Indigenous populations has impact, momentum and sustainability. | | |
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 | Q&A: How do we improve Indigenous experiences of healthcare? To celebrate NAIDOC Week, the VCCC Alliance hosted a special Monday Lunch Live centred on improving care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with advanced disease.
An expert panel featuring Professor Gail Garvey, Abe Ropitini, Clare O’Reilly and consumer Leah Lindrea-Morrison discussed the more practical side of improving palliative care for Aboriginal patients with cancer in line with VACCHO's Victorian Aboriginal cancer journey strategy. | | |
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 | July is Sarcoma Awareness Month Sarcoma is a rare and complex cancer arising from the bone, cartilage or soft tissues such as fat, muscle, connective tissue or blood vessels. Sarcomas can form anywhere in the body and are frequently hidden deep in the limbs. They are often misdiagnosed as a benign (non-cancerous) lump, or as a sporting injury or growing pains in young people.
As part of Sarcoma Awareness Month, the VCCC Alliance, together with the Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA), is running two free webinars. | | |
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Consumer Survey: Clinical trial matching websites
Clinical trials play a vital role in continually improving treatments and care but a key barrier to trial participation persists: patients are simply not aware of appropriate trials.
Some patients will search for trials themselves, with 'matching' websites offering a service to find or match clinical trials to the patient.
We are collecting consumer feedback on these clinical trial matching websites to inform an important awareness project as part of our Clinical Trial Innovations program. | | |
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Upcoming Events | |
7 JUL | VCCC Alliance Nurse-led Research Hub Short online workshop: Reference Management and Software
Book now › |
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11 JUL | Monday Lunch Livestream with Dr Ryan Cross Developing Novel Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Brain Cancer
Book now › |
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13 JUL | Giving Good Feedback Workshop A Thinkwell Workshop designed to transform your feedback
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13 JUL | WEHI's Registries and Registry Trials in Breast Cancer - a pragmatic approach VCCC Alliance Grand Round Breast Cancer with Dr Vanessa Wong
Book now › |
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15 JUL | VCCC Alliance Precision Oncology ForumExploring targeted therapies at ASCO 2022
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18 JUL | Monday Lunch Livestream with Dr Jeremy Lewin and A/Prof Claudia Di Bella Physical function outcomes in survivors of sarcoma
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19 JUL | Multidisciplinary Approach to Tongue Cancer Webinar Series - what can we do better? (Part 5)
When things don't go well - managing failure and the future research outlook
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21 JUL | VCCC Alliance Nurse-Led Research Webinar Clinical Trial Literacy for Bedside Nurses
Book now › |
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28 JUL | Sarcoma Awareness Month: STRASS 2 trial updates An international collaborative trial in retroperitoneal sarcoma
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9 SEP | 5th VCCC Alliance Postdoctoral Symposium: Advances in Cancer Research One-day virtual event showcasing the latest in basic, translational and clinical cancer research
Book now › |
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Education & Training | |
 | Applications open: Professor Tony Burgess Medal Prestigious new opportunity for early career researchers
We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for an early career cancer researcher. The Tony Burgess Medal is a prestigious new award offering the successful applicant the chance to deliver a plenary address on the eve of the VCCC Alliance Post Doctoral Symposium in September – plus a $5,000 cash prize.
This is a rare platform to showcase the breadth and depth of your research, highlighting how you have collaborated with others along the way. Take the plunge and apply today - or encourage a colleague to. The inaugural winner will set the bar.
Applications close 11:59pm Tuesday 12 July 2022. | | |
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 | 5th Annual Postdoctoral Symposium: Abstract Submissions closing soon Showcasing the latest developments in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research, this virtual event especially for Post Docs is a great opportunity for professional development and networking nationally.
Featuring plenary lectures, talks and flash talks, this conference provides an excellent forum for postdoctoral researchers to share data, discover new fields of research, and forge connections with both like-minded and unexpected future collaborators.
This year's event will officially open with a prestigious new plenary session, the Tony Burgess Medal Address, to be held on the eve of the symposium and broadcast live from the VCCC building.
Applications close 11:59pm Tuesday 12 July 2022. | | |
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 | EOI: Aboriginal Program Coordinator, VCCC Alliance & VACCHO A rewarding opportunity to drive positive change in cancer health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
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 | VCCC Alliance Program Manager, Translational Research Facilitate the integration of multi-disciplinary translational cancer research from human laboratory studies through to molecular testing and molecularly directed/early phase trials. |
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 | VCCC Alliance Project Officer: Clinical Trials Innovations Coordinate, prioritise and drive the execution of multiple complementary cancer research projects within our Clinical Trial Innovations program. |
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 | Master of Cancer Sciences: Research Capstone Supervisors We require three casual Cancer Research Capstone Supervisors in the Research Thesis Capstone subject to take responsibility for the supervision of multiple students (3-4 per 6-month project) within the Master of Cancer Sciences course. |
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 | Online Teaching Assistant: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners Teaching Assistant, casual role for four weeks during teaching period (3 October - 28 October) at an approximate time commitment of 3-5 hours per week, plus two weeks' access for learners to 11 November. |
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Spotlight On... | |
Cancer Nurses Pandemic Forum The Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network Oncology Nurses Expert Group presents the Cancer Nurses’ Pandemic Forum. This webinar will discuss current treatments for patients testing positive for COVID, their benefits, and the enablers and barriers to accessing treatments. It will also cover the current COVID vaccine schedule for cancer patients.
Speakers:
Dr Frances Barnett, Director of Medical Oncology, Northern Health
Dr Pascal Gelperowicz, Emergency Physician, Northern Health
Katherine Lane, Head of Cancer Information and Support Services, Cancer Council Victoria
DATE: Thursday 14 July 2022
TIME: 7.00pm - 8.15pm |
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Voices for Palliative Care: Applications now open Your chance to contribute to health research in palliative care
Are you living with a serious illness? Have you cared for someone who has received palliative care? Do you have a passion for quality care in serious illness?
The newly established Voices for Palliative Care - led by the Palliative Nexus research group (University of Melbourne and St Vincent's Hospital) - is seeking applications from community members to partner with health researchers and professionals to drive improvements in palliative care. |
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How to give good feedback A Thinkwell Workshop for research supervisors
13 July 2022, webinar, 10 am–12 pm AEST
Many graduate students cite receiving and dealing with feedback from their supervisors as one of the most frustrating areas of candidature. Feedback is essential to help students progress and improve the quality of their outputs. So what can you, as a supervisor, do to ensure they get the feedback they need? |
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June Snapshot | |
 | 13 Education and training events |
|  | 854 Education and training event attendees |
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