Held each year on the second Thursday of August, the day brings cancer nurses, healthcare organisations, partners and communities together to recognise the vital role cancer nurses play throughout diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, supportive care and end-of-life care.
Our story
Cancer Nurses Day was established in 2024 by the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia to create greater recognition of cancer nursing as a highly skilled and specialised profession.
Since then, the campaign has continued to grow, with more than 8,000 nurses from over 420 organisations already joining celebrations nationwide - from regional services and community settings to major metropolitan hospitals and organisations across Australia.
Why Cancer Nurses Day matters
Cancer nurses bring expert knowledge, clinical excellence and compassionate care to people affected by cancer every day. They coordinate complex care, educate and advocate for patients and families, lead improvements in practice, contribute to research and help shape the future of cancer care.
Cancer Nurses Day creates a dedicated opportunity to recognise this contribution, raise the profile of the profession and strengthen understanding of the specialist expertise cancer nurses bring to Australia’s health system.
Strong. Skilled. Specialised.
In 2026, we mark the final year of the Strong. Skilled. Specialised. campaign theme.
Through this theme, we recognise cancer nurses as:
Strong in the support they provide to patients, families and colleagues.
Skilled in practice, applying expert knowledge and clinical excellence to deliver high-quality cancer care.
Specialised in the knowledge, judgement and expertise they bring to complex cancer care.
Celebrate with us
There is no single way to take part. From morning teas and team photos to staff recognition, storytelling and larger workplace events, every celebration helps shine a spotlight on the cancer nursing workforce.
However you choose to mark the day, we invite you to join Cancer Nurses Day on Thursday 13 August 2026.