IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026
Session : Policy and regulatory frameworks
Frameworks to support equitable cancer care: Development of the Optimal Care Pathway for people living in rural and remote areas of Australia
JONGEBLOED H. 1, BERGIN R. 1,2,3, CHAPMAN A. 1, WRIGHT C. 1, RODI H. 1, VARLOW M. 4, WHITTAKER K. 5, SERGEANT L. 1, HONEYBALL F. 6,7, O'KANE C. 8, RIVA S. 1, MARSHALL S. 1, UGALDE A. 1
1 Institute for Health Transformation, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; 2 Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; 3 Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; 4 Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; 5 Cancer Care Policy, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 6 University of Sydney School of Rural Health, Dubbo, NSW, Australia; 7 Western Cancer Centre - Dubbo Western New South Wales Local Health District, Dubbo, NSW, Australia; 8 Wimmera Cancer Centre, Grampians Health, Horsham, VIC, Australia
?Background: Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are nationally endorsed frameworks that outline best-practice care to support safe, quality and equitable cancer outcomes. OCPs are established for multiple cancer types and are in development for priority population groups identified in the Australian Cancer Plan. Our Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA) research group led the development of the OCP for people living in rural and remote areas.
Objectives: To present recommendations based on learnings from developing the rural and remote OCP to strengthen future cancer framework development in Australia and globally
Methods: OCP development adhered to the OCP toolkit methodology and National OCP Framework, including: establishing project governance, appointing a working group, performing a literature review, undertaking a targeted consultation with relevant organisations, iterative drafting with the working group, a national public consultation, collating feedback and executing the graphic design and translation.
Results: Three OCP documents (1) Optimal Care Pathway, 2) Quick Reference Guide, 3) Guide to Best Cancer Care) were developed in 2025, with national endorsement and launch in 2026. Policy-relevant recommendations to strengthen future cancer framework development in Australia and global health systems included:
Early consultation across the sector: The project team consulted broadly across the rural and remote health sector and met with developers of other OCPs to discuss learnings and important considerations. This facilitated sector wide engagement, set a shared vision and identified important milestones across the development of the OCP.
National representation on a diverse working group: A diverse national working group with 35 experts in rural cancer care was convened, with a national Expression of Interest (EOI) process used to recruit members. Emphasis was placed on geographic and experiential diversity of members to ensure the realities of rural and remote cancer care were captured. Members included people with a lived experience of cancer and representatives from a range of health professions (medical oncology, haematology, nursing, general practice, allied health, palliative care, health service management).
Embedded consumer engagement: Genuine involvement of people with a lived experience of cancer was prioritised. Patients and carers on the working group were essential to developing person-centred, appropriate and accessible cancer frameworks. Dedicated meetings with consumers for targeted feedback were conducted.
Recognition of the diversity of rural and remote settings: We integrated into the OCP recognition that travel may be required, and understanding individual preferences and supporting active decision making was particularly important for people in rural and remote areas. Recognising diversity of rural and remote areas generated a more relevant OCP.
Develop appropriate and accessible documents: Through broad engagement (consumers, clinicians, community and professional organisations), we generated final documents in formats that reflected and resonated with the communities for which they were intended.
Conclusions/Implications for practice or policy: These recommendations for the development of cancer care pathways aim to support equity, relevance and implementation. While grounded in the Australian experience of developing an OCP for people living in rural and remote areas, these recommendations are applicable to other population-specific frameworks, disease areas and international contexts.