Taking Melanoma Nurses National

Overview

In the 2022-23 Federal Election, the Government committed to provide $14.8 million to the Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) to support 35 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) melanoma nurses by 2025-26 as part of the Melanoma Nurses Program. This funding is being made available under these guidelines. Funding for this grant will be provided to the MIA who will recruit and train 30 specialist melanoma nurses and engage Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) through a subcontractor arrangement to provide five specialist melanoma telehealth nurses. These nurses must be a central point of contact for Australians impacted by melanoma and must provide: • Vital information, care and support for both patient and their families, as well as health care professionals within a multidisciplinary team; • Improved access to multidisciplinary specialists and services; • Continuity of care for patients throughout the entire cancer journey; and • Coordination from diagnosis onwards. The objectives of the grant opportunity are to: • Enable access for Australians diagnosed with melanoma, their families and carers to a melanoma nurse from diagnosis and throughout treatment; • Provide principal liaison between a patient diagnosed with melanoma and their medical specialist, and coordinate and facilitate access to treatment and care services; • Minimise the stress and trauma of a melanoma diagnosis for Australians and their family; • Recruit, train and employ 30 FTE melanoma nurses by 2025-26. •             Provide equity of access to melanoma patients through MPA telehealth services via a subcontractor arrangement (five telehealth nurses).