Letter CEO FROM THE
W hen we place the consumer voice at the centre of everything we do, we can be confident our purpose will be met—advocating for better care, treatment and support for all Australians affected by breast cancer. In November last year we decided it was again time to “take the pulse” and ask for your feedback on how we are doing, and whether we are meeting your needs for support and connection. We conducted two national surveys—one for people diagnosed with breast cancer and one for health professionals—using these valuable responses to ensure we are consistently designing our policy, advocacy and information support services with you in mind. Read more about our member experience survey on page 5. This year we have already seen two significant outcomes in our advocacy. In February, our advocacy work to have people with metastatic breast cancer counted in our cancer registries crossed another major milestone when Prime Minster Anthony Albanese announced $1.5 million in funding to the Australian Institue of Health and Welfare to create a cancer data alliance. This will see state and territory cancer registries supported to work towards this goal. The late Peta Murphy MP’s amazing legacy in championing better breast cancer care and treatment was acknowledged with the naming of the new Peta Murphy Breast Imaging Suite at Frankston Hospital, Victoria. Connection and Social Capital was a great theme for our 2024 Consumer Think Tank, which was held at the end of March. It reinforced our values as a consumer- led organisation, where the consumer voice is valued and central to everything we do. I really enjoyed hearing more than 50 BCNA consumers, staff, Board members and guest speakers sharing their creative ideas and experiences. It was an amazing three days of listening and celebration. Read more about this special event on pages 8 and 9. Last month, we had the pleasure of travelling to Murray Bridge, South Australia, for our first Information Forum for 2024. It was one of our highest attended forums in recent times. How wonderful it was to see everyone connecting with each other. Our next
stop is Tasmania, where we will be visiting Devonport on 30 April and Hobart on 2 May. If you’re in the area, we’d love to see you there or you can join us online. Check out our website for details . This year we are celebrating a 20-year partnership milestone with Berlei. We are so incredibly grateful to Berlei for their support across two decades, which includes the delivery of more than 200,000 My Care Kits for those undergoing breast cancer surgery. There have been many highlights along the way, which we share with you on page 17. We are getting excited (and hope you are too) for our annual Pink Bun campaign with Bakers Delight from 9–29 May! We are thrilled to introduce the wonderful faces of this year’s campaign on page 5. Please head into your local bakery to see the incredible support given to us by Bakers Delight and be sure to grab a Fun Bun or a six-pack while you’re there! 100% of Pink Fun Bun sales go to BCNA. We hope this edition of The Beacon highlights the power of your voice in helping to impact change. From our member survey to the metastatic breast cancer roadmap announcement, Think Tank, and all the incredible stories our members share—each voice comes together to strengthen our network.
Kirsten Pilatti Chief Executive Officer
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bcna.org.au
Issue 97 | April 2024
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