Support for Women with Breast Cancer

Overview

The Australian Government currently supports the McGrath Foundation to employ and train 57 specialist Breast Care Nurses (BCNs) to provide physical (clinical), psychological and emotional support to Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer. The purpose of the Supporting Women with Breast Cancer grant opportunity (the grant opportunity) is to support an additional 41 BCNs which will bring the total number of Commonwealth-funded BCNs to 98 by 2022-23. The objectives of the grant opportunity are to: provide support for Australian women with breast cancer (including metastatic breast cancer), by enabling increased access for them, their families and carers to a BCN from diagnosis and throughout treatment; provide principal liaison between a woman diagnosed with breast cancer and her medical specialist, and co-ordinate and facilitate access to treatment and care services; and minimise the stress and trauma of a breast cancer diagnosis for a woman and her family. The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are: provision of physical (clinical), psychological and emotional support to women diagnosed with breast cancer, their families and carers in areas identified of high need; improved continuity and quality of care for women diagnosed with breast cancer; and an increase in the number of Commonwealth funded BCNs from 57 to 98 BCNs by 2022-23.