Health Policy

Niranjala Siriwardena: Building Australia’s First Workplace Cancer Survivorship Policy

Niranjala Siriwardena/LinkedIn

Aug 18, 2025, 20:12

Niranjala Siriwardena: Building Australia’s First Workplace Cancer Survivorship Policy

Niranjala Siriwardena, Cancer Survivor and Former Manager at PwC Australia, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Building Australia’s First Workplace Cancer Survivorship Policy – Together.

In just 6 weeks, this vision has grown from one survivor’s voice into a coalition of national leaders, researchers and survivor advocates committed to closing Australia’s workplace cancer gap and committed to systemic change.

Today, I’m proud to share the growing network of support shaping Australia’s 🇦🇺 first national workplace cancer survivorship policy and white paper:

Policy and National Leaders

Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Victoria, VCCC Alliance, Cancer Voices SA, Breast Cancer Network Australia, Rare Cancers Australia, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer others offering recognition, introductions, and policy pathways.

Medical and Research Experts

Prof. Bogda Koczwara (MASCC, UNSW)
Prof. Michael Jefford (COSA)
Prof. Louise Koelmeyer (Macquarie University)
Julien Vos (University of Amsterdam)
Adam Nebbs (Menzies Institute)

contributing evidence, outcome measures and survivor-centred research.

Survivor Advocates and Amplifiers

From Karen van Gorp (she/her), Penny Lello, Nikki Shah, to Swapnalekha Basak (India), Isabella Mireles (UC Irvine), Robyn Smith, and others — survivor voices leading, not sidelined.

Special thanks to Cancer Australia and Professor Dorothy Keefe, Vivienne Milch, and the leadership team for their leadership, encouragement, and vision. Another Special to OncoDaily for amplifying this advocacy on a global stage.

This is not just my work. It is a shared vision: that no cancer survivor should face silence, stigma, or exclusion at work.

The white paper draft will be released soon, and I’ll be inviting public comment, expert review, and survivor feedback.

To survivors: you are not alone.

To policymakers, researchers, and employers: this is the moment to connect. Together we can transform workplaces into places of dignity, safety, and inclusion.”

Niranjala Siriwardena: Building Australia’s First Workplace Cancer Survivorship Policy