Healthy North Coast has awarded more than $345,000 in grants to 25 local general practices to strengthen early intervention for skin cancer, following a strong response to the funding opportunity.
The Capability Building in Skin Cancer Early Intervention grants, funded by the Australian Government’s Primary Healthy Network program, will support local GPs and nurses to increase their capacity to detect and manage skin cancer earlier, helping people access timely care closer to home.
The North Coast of NSW has significantly higher melanoma rates than the state average. Northern NSW Local Health District records the highest levels in the state, with Ballina, Lismore, and Byron Bay local government areas among the top melanoma hotspots nationally.[1]
This is due to a mix of high UV exposure, outdoor lifestyle, suboptimal sun protection behaviours, and disparities in healthcare access.
Successful organisations received grants of between $10,000 and $15,000 to fund equipment and activities such as dermatoscopes, staff training, diagnostic imaging technology and community screening clinics.
List of grant recipients
- AB Surgery, Kempsey – $10,400
- Almeda Healthcare, Coffs Harbour – $15,000
- Alstonville Clinic , Alstonville – $10,000
- Alstonville Medical Centre, Alstonville – $15,000
- Ballina Family Medical Centre, Ballina – $12,680
- Ballina Health Centre, Ballina – $15,000
- Bay Centre Medical Clinic, Byron Bay – $12,600
- Centre Street Medical, Casino – $15,000
- Clarence Medical Centre, Maclean – $15,000
- Dr Lerm’s Surgery, Woolgoolga – $14,500
- Evans Head Medical Centre, Evans Head – $15,000
- Greenmeadows Medical, Port Macquarie – $15,000
- Kempsey Medical Centre, Kempsey – $13,600
- Kingscliff Health , Kingscliff – $13,000
- Maclean Medical, Maclean – $15,000
- Maria Clinic, Casino – $14,500
- McKid Medical, Kyogle – $15,000
- Mullumbimby Comprehensive Health Centre, Mullumbimby – $15,000
- OneBridge, Byron Bay & Ballina – $15,000
- Prema House Medical Centre, Lismore – $15,000
- Queen Street Medical, Murwillumbah – $15,000
- Tintenbar Medical Centre, Tintenbar – $12,400
- Valiant Health, Port Macquarie – $10,000
- Wollumbin Medical, Murwillumbah – $15,000
- Woodburn Health, Woodburn – $12,000
Total grants awarded: $345,680
North Coast Specialist Skin Cancer Support Program
In a related piece of work, Healthy North Coast has engaged DermScreen to deliver the North Coast Specialist Skin Cancer Support Program for $240,000. This program will give GPs remote access to specialist dermatologists, whose expertise will help strengthen local capability in early detection, assessment and management of skin cancer within general practice settings. It has a focus on high-risk populations and practices located within identified priority local government areas.
The program will support 10 participating practices in routine skin cancer assessment processes, improving documentation and referral quality, supporting earlier clinical decision-making, and increasing confidence in the use of dermatoscopy and evidence-based skin cancer assessment within general practice settings.
Expressions of interest are now open for general practices on the North Coast to apply for one of the 10 places in the program. Learn more and apply at: hnc.org.au/news-story/expression-of-interest-specialist-supported-skin-cancer-care-in-general-practice
These initiatives align with the objectives of the NSW Health Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023–2030 and Healthy North Coast’s commissioning priorities relating to prevention, early intervention, improved regional access and strengthening primary care capability in skin cancer assessment and management.
Quotes
Justine Elliot MP, Member for Richmond:
“Living in a region with high UV exposure, we all know the value of prevention and early intervention when it comes to detecting and managing skin cancer.
“As your local MP, I’m proud to be delivering $345,000 in federal funding which will help ensure North Coast locals can access timely skin cancer screening, diagnosis and care closer to home.”
Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler:
“We know people living on the North Coast are at higher risk of skin cancer, and we also know that access to timely assessment and care can be more challenging in regional and rural communities.
“These grants are about equipping local GPs and nurses with the tools, training and capability they need to identify and manage skin cancers earlier.
“We were really encouraged by the quality and number of applications we received. It’s important to support our local primary health industry to build their capability and help improve access to early intervention for people across the North Coast.”
Dr Michael Hayter, Head Practitioner at Ballina Health Centre and grant recipient:
“We are extremely pleased to receive this $15,000 grant to strengthen skin cancer detection within our practice.
“As GPs, we see first hand just how important early detection is. When melanoma is found early, treatment can often be relatively straightforward. Once it becomes advanced, the treatment can be far more complex and have a significant impact on patients and their families.
“General practice is ideally placed to do this work. We know our patients, often care for them over many years and can identify people who may be at increased risk and make skin checks part of their ongoing health care.
We are very grateful for the support.”
Dr Philip Tong, DermScreen Founder and CEO:
“Australia has an enormous burden of skin cancer, but specialist dermatology capacity is limited, particularly for people living in regional and rural communities. The challenge is not simply finding more skin cancers; it is making sure people can access the right expertise, at the right time, without every concern requiring a conventional specialist appointment.
“This program brings specialist dermatologists into the general practice setting to support GPs with dermoscopy, assessment and clinical decision-making. Importantly, the local GP remains responsible for the patient’s care, while having access to specialist advice, case-based learning and mentoring when they need it. Over time, that builds capability within the practice as well as supporting the individual patient.
“Healthy North Coast is giving us an important opportunity to take a model that has already been tested in regional Australia and implement it systematically across general practice. We’re very pleased to be working with local clinicians to demonstrate what specialist-supported primary care can achieve for patients on the North Coast.”
