02/09/2025
Yesterday, HANCA’s CEO Nadia Rosin, Board Director Carolyn Smith, and Community Advisory Committee representative Jen Mackay met with federal MPs, advisors and departmental representatives at Parliament House to continue advocating for Australians affected by Head and Neck Cancer. Discussions focused on the urgent need to address access to external facial prosthetics and dental prosthetics for HNC survivors. These services are essential for recovery, rehabilitation and quality of life, yet remain unfunded and out of reach for many.
Today we are proud to join CanForum 2025 at Parliament House, hosted by Rare Cancers Australia. The theme “Now it’s personal: access and equity for all” underscores the urgent need to improve access to timely diagnosis, treatment and support for people living with rare and less common cancers, including Head and Neck Cancer. The session “The answers within: Unleashing the power of personalised care” strongly resonates since every Head and Neck Cancer journey is unique.
We also acknowledge the Federal Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry into equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for rare and less common cancers. Of 41 recommendations, 31 were supported in full or in principle, including commitments to the Health Technology Assessment Review, Optimal Care Pathways, genomics policy and the Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program:https://www.rarecancers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Senate-Inquiry-into-Equitable-access-to-diagnosis-and-treatment-for-individuals-with-rare-and-less-common-cancers.pdf
We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with clinicians, researchers, advocates and policymakers to ensure the voice of the Head and Neck Cancer community is central to shaping future care and outcomes.
