Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program: Applications now open

Cancer Australia has launched the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program, a new $16.9 million initiative aimed at accelerating the delivery of culturally safe cancer care for First Nations communities across Australia.

Addressing long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within mainstream health services, particularly in specialist cancer care, is crucial to ensuring First Nations people can access and complete treatments with improved outcomes. The program emphasises the importance of a culturally safe system, where respect for cultural values and elimination of racism and inequity are paramount. These are key outcomes of both the Australian Cancer Plan and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan.

This national grant program will allocate up to $16.9 million over 3 years to support up to 20 partnerships between cancer services and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations. Partnerships, with funding of up to $1 million each, will focus on innovative, community-driven local activities designed to improve the delivery of cancer care for First Nations people.

Eligibility

To apply for the grant, applicants will need to demonstrate a partnership between a cancer service and at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation.

Eligible organisations include:

• cancer services that support the diagnosis, management, and treatment of people with cancer, their families, and communities
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that provide primary and supportive care to support the holistic needs of First Nations people and communities
• not-for-profit organisations that support First Nations people affected by cancer.

How to apply

Applications are now open and will close on Wednesday 23 October 2024.

Applications can be submitted through Cancer Australia’s grant management system, Can-Grant: www.canceraustralia.gov.au/research/grants-and-funding/can-grant.

Further information about the program

For grant guidelines and further information, please visit:

• GrantConnect
• Cancer Australia’s Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes page.

Enquires can be emailed to FirstNationsGrants@canceraustralia.gov.au.