Culturally safe cancer care through partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and have poorer survival outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians.
Cancer Australia is implementing the Australian Cancer Plan, a 10-year national strategy to deliver world-class cancer care for every Australian. This includes a strong commitment to achieving equity in cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Working together
Cancer Australia is working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations to co-design and deliver key elements of the Plan ensuring better cancer outcomes for First Nations people. Highlights in 2024ꟷ25 include:
First Nations Cancer Scholarships ꟷ in partnership with the Aurora Education Foundation, an Indigenous organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, 5 postgraduate scholarships were awarded to help develop future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in cancer research and policy. Additional scholarship rounds will be offered in 2025ꟷ26 and 2026ꟷ27.
Partnerships for culturally safe care grant program ꟷ 15 grants were awarded to support culturally safe and respectful cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These projects represent partnerships between mainstream cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations.
Partnerships for cancer research grant program ꟷ 5 First Nations-led cancer research projects to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in cancer research and build capacity across the sector.
All initiatives are guided by Cancer Australia’s Leadership Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Advisors, in collaboration with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
Leila Smith (first from left), CEO of the Aurora Education Foundation, and Professor Dorothy Keefe (second from right), CEO of Cancer Australia, awarding 3 of the inaugural recipients of the First Nations Cancer Scholarship program.
Image: Cancer Australia
Benefits for the community
Cancer Australia is committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are central to cancer policy and care, in line with the Australian Government’s commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Strong demand for Cancer Australia’s scholarship and grant programs demonstrates the appetite for addressing longstanding equity and cultural safety issues in mainstream health services. These programs are forging new partnerships between health services, researchers and the community-controlled sector. This enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be more actively involved in developing and delivering cancer services.
By adopting this approach, Cancer Australia is helping to create a more inclusive, culturally responsive and equitable cancer care system. This is a vital step towards closing the gap in cancer outcomes so all Australians affected by cancer receive the care and support they need.
Find out more
Cancer Australia (2025) Australian Cancer Plan , Cancer Australia website, accessed 13 August 2025.
Cancer Australia (2025) Key programs ꟷ Improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people , Cancer Australia website, accessed 13 August 2025.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (2025) Our health in our hands , NACCHO website, accessed 19 August 2025.
The Aurora Education Foundation (2025) The Aurora Education Foundation , The Aurora Foundation website, accessed 19 August 2025.