Abhijit Pal, Conjoint Associate Professor at Western Sydney University, shared on LinkedIn:
“A fantastic day on Monday for the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity. If you want to go fast, go alone – but if you want to go far, go together.
Two years ago, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Cancer Institute NSW and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research came together with clinician‑researchers (Mei Ling Yap, Wei Chua, Bernadette Brady and myself), researchers (Kate McBride and Tara Roberts, Western Sydney University) and philanthropy (Arnold and Irene Vitocco) to build a center dedicated to shifting the national conversation on cancer equity.
After months of preparation (thank you to our outstanding program coordinator Shaz Sazali), it was a privilege to co‑convene our inaugural AcCE Cancer Equity Day with Mei Ling Yap and welcome colleagues to the Perich Centre at the Ingham Institute.
We are deeply grateful for our community and consumer partners, whose leadership and lived experience guide our work: CanRevive Inc. Eric Yeung, Pink Sari and Arab Council Australia. Hearing Eric speak is always a great honor, and he opened the day with clear message on building connection, trust and fighting misinformation.
The message remains clear: cancer does discriminate. If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, unable to speak English well, from a rural or remote area, or from a lower socioeconomic background, your cancer outcomes are likely to suffer.
As Professor Tracey O’Brien, AM often notes, cancer outcomes are a litmus test for the health system. When inequities persist, they reflect system design, not individual failings.
Hearing from two global leaders in cancer equity, Professor Alex Brown and Professor Sabe Sabesan, was a highlight for all.
Inequity in cancer outcomes is not accidental – it is the product of our current system. Achieving equity requires reform with justice and fairness at every level: clinicians, executives, state agencies and federal bodies. As Sabe would say, the entire lasagna needs to be cooked through with enough equity sauce at every level.
AcCE exists to help drive that change, together. Bottom up from the lived experience of clinicians working in areas affected by disparities and top down with health system executives passionate about embedding equity with their leadership. Onwards and upwards.”
Other articles about The Australian Centre for Cancer Equity on OncoDaily.
