The Albanese Government is investing $10.3 million to tackle the most common cancer in our sunburnt country, skin cancer.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with 2 in 3 people diagnosed with some form of the disease in their lifetime.
It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia.
More than 18,000 people last year were diagnosed with the most lethal form of skin cancer, melanoma.
Early detection is essential to give Australians the best chance to treat their skin cancer.
This funding will bring together the expertise of the cancer sector and accelerate the development of a national targeted skin cancer screening roadmap.
The program will be led by Australians of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO at the Melanoma Institute Australia.
Melanoma Institute Australia will work in collaboration with other cancer stakeholders to research risk-based and cost-effective national screening approaches.
This includes improving skin cancer data collection for the Australian Cancer Database in close collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The skin cancer sector has met with the Health Minister to kick start implementation of the $10.3 million investment and identify other opportunities to improve skin cancer outcomes across the entire cancer continuum.
Melanoma Institute Australia is also delivering the Albanese Government's commitment to establish a national melanoma nurses program.
As part of Australia's first Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program, patients will have access to a melanoma nurse to help them navigate their diagnosis.
These nurses have already started making a difference in Bendigo, Toowoomba, Perth, Wollongong and Canberra.
This investment is on top off the Government's $15 million national skin cancer prevention campaign which encourages more Aussies to do the Five S's- Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide, including men over 40 and young adults.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Skin cancer is our national cancer but it's also one of the most preventable.
"There have been huge breakthroughs in treatment in recent years thanks to the efforts of pioneers like the Australians of the Year, Professor Long and Professor Scolyer.
"As we head into summer we should all remind ourselves to do the Five S's- Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.
"The investment will accelerate the work underway by the Melanoma Institute in building this important national roadmap."
Quotes attributable to Australian of the Year, Professor Georgina Long AO, Melanoma Institute Australia:
"The allocation of $10.3 million to research and develop an evidence-based roadmap for a targeted skin cancer screening program over the coming years is exciting for the sector.
"This is a major first step forward in the establishment of this key program, as we fight to beat Australia's national cancer."
Quotes attributable to Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer AO, Melanoma Institute Australia:
"We welcome news from the Budget announcement of the Government's $15 million continued commitment to prevention messaging of skin cancer and melanoma.
"Prevention is better than a cure, and the more investment in this area the better from our perspective."
