AMS Cancer Quality Improvement Collaborative

This initiative aims to improve cancer care outcomes for Aboriginal communities. This program is of critical importance to our region because Aboriginal communities experience significantly higher cancer mortality rates. This initiative directly targets these disparities by fostering culturally safe, community-led solutions.

Additionally, the Collaborative assists Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS’s) in developing and implementing community-led solutions, which are informed by culturally safe practices and supported by data-driven quality improvement processes. The collaborative enables efforts between AMS’s and Primary Health Networks to contribute to a cancer program and system that is responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people.

The Cancer Institute and Healthy North Coast (HNC) have made significant progress in partnership with AMSs to develop and implement locally led cancer care initiatives, including the delivery of orientation sessions and a series of quality improvement workshops.

HNC plays a central role in facilitating coordination, monitoring, and reporting, reducing administrative burden for AMSs and enabling strong, effective collaboration across the ACCHO sector.

The Cancer Institute designed the initiative to oversee and guide the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS’s) through designing, developing and implementing a Cancer Quality Improvement project. Participation across the AMS/ACCHO network remains strong, with consistent engagement demonstrating the value of the collaborative approach. Workforce capability continues to be strengthened through the active involvement of AMS staff in cancer screening, health promotion activities, and cross-service collaboration, all aimed at improving cancer screening participation and outcomes for Aboriginal peoples across the HNC region.

AMSs are effectively leveraging the HNC AMS Cancer Collaborative to enhance cancer prevention and care using culturally informed, data-driven approaches. AMS Participants drive the agenda and focus of the workshops to suit their learning needs.

• Quarterly quality improvement workshops are delivered to AMS nominated staff around quality improvement, research and evaluation

• Co-design capability building workshops and activities – Peer support and shared learnings

• AMS staff producing specific Cancer care screening project initiatives tailored to the needs of their individual communities – building campaigns.

• Forming a strong foundation for improving chronic disease outcomes in our communities

• Collaborative development of cancer quality improvement screening programs and initiatives in ACCHO’s (tailored to their organisation) through peer support and shared learnings.

• Strengthening the local network of the Aboriginal Cancer Workforce

• Supporting capability development in quality improvement

The Cancer Institute is a highly valued partner, and this grant strongly aligns with Cancer Plan priorities to improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal communities through culturally safe, community-led approaches.