News

Know someone who’s made a lasting impact on cancer nursing? Life Membership is CNSA’s highest honour, recognising outstanding contribution to the profession and our community.

There’s something special about being able to say “I’m a cancer nurse and a CNSA member” - and this year, we’re celebrating our community with a membership badge you can wear with pride. It's a simple badge, but it represents something much bigger - connection, commitment, and a shared identity as cancer nurses 💜

Following a record-breaking number of abstract submissions, our Program Committee has shaped a dynamic and engaging program that honours the depth, innovation and leadership across cancer nursing. From nurse-led models of care and emerging therapies, to survivorship, psychosocial care, digital health and workforce development, this year’s program brings together the ideas and expertise driving change across our profession.

Have you got yours yet? 💜 Our 2026 CNSA membership badges are starting to land in mailboxes, and we’re already seeing them proudly worn across the country. It’s a simple badge, but it represents something much bigger — connection, commitment, and a shared identity as cancer nurses.

CNSA's GYN Specialist Practice Network is proud to be developing GyN Care — an evidence-based, interactive guidance resource designed to support and strengthen gynaecological cancer nursing practice across Australia.

There’s still time to put yourself forward and nominate for one of three Elected Director positions on the CNSA Board. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of cancer nursing in Australia and contribute to the strategic direction of our national association. 

On Monday 23 March 2026, cancer nurses and clinicians from across regional New South Wales came together at the Central West Cancer Care Centre in Orange for a highly practical and impactful Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) Workshop, led by Clinical Associate Professor Evan Alexandrou.

Applications are now OPEN for the 2026 MooGoo Postgraduate Cancer Nursing Scholarships! Thanks to our partnership with MooGoo Skin Care, we’re awarding four scholarships - 2 x $5,000 Early Career and 2 x $10,000 Open General - to support postgraduate cancer nursing students in Australia. These scholarships are designed to help subsidise study costs and, most importantly, strengthen the education of our cancer nursing workforce.

We are thrilled to share that this year’s Congress has received a record-breaking number of abstract submissions, showcasing the depth, innovation and leadership across cancer nursing. Submissions span nurse-led models of care, advanced practice and emerging therapies, supportive care and survivorship, equity and culturally safe care, haematology and solid tumour streams, digital health and care-at-home innovation, education and workforce development, psychosocial care, palliative practice, and treatment safety - an incredible reflection of the impact that cancer nurses are having across Australia.

CNSA is pleased to announce our 2026 CNSA Research Grant recipients, Dr Kerrie Curtis and Ashlee Stirling, PhD Candidate (University of Southern Queensland). Their projects reflect the strength of nurse-led research, grounded in real-world challenges and focused on improving patient experience, equity, and the sustainability of cancer services. Together, Kerrie and Ashlee's projects highlight key priorities for the profession: strengthening nurse-led models of care, enabling nurses to work to full scope of practice, and generating evidence that supports workforce planning, funding decisions, and service redesign.

Ashlee Stirling, PhD Candidate (University of Southern Queensland) is one of our 2026 CNSA Research Grant recipients, investigating whether a nurse-led teleoncology model is economically sustainable long-term. Her project will compare health system costs before and after implementation of a teleoncology service supporting rural hospitals to deliver systemic anti-cancer therapies locally, with specialist oversight via telehealth. The goal is clear: build the financial evidence needed to sustain and scale models that keep care closer to home for rural and remote patients.

Dr Kerrie Curtis is a 2026 CNSA Research Grant recipient leading a multisite, binational point-prevalence study to quantify Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) in day therapy and ambulatory cancer units across Australia and New Zealand. By identifying how many patients are affected and where the burden sits, her work will strengthen the case for nurse-led ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion, aiming for fewer painful attempts, improved efficiency, and a better experience for people receiving cancer treatment.

We are delighted to announce three additional keynote speakers in Clair Scott (Haematology CNC), Shannon Philp (Gynae Oncology NP) and Steph Barrett (Palliative Care), further strengthening a line-up that will help shape an exceptional Congress in Perth. This year’s program will explore how innovation, education, integration and advocacy intersect to elevate cancer nursing practice and showcase nurse-led models of care.

It's that time of the year - your CNSA membership is due for renewal! After another record breaking year, we're encouraging members to get in early and complete the process to maintain uninterrupted access to your member benefits. 

Recently, CNSA’s Education Manager, Dr Pammie Ellem, travelled to Darwin to represent the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia and support local cancer nurses through targeted professional development.

Attending Congress is one of the most valuable professional development opportunities available to cancer nurses; and we know that making it happen can sometimes require a little extra support. Download our letter of support or apply for a travel grant - keep reading to find out how.

CNSA is currently coordinating and facilitating a series of nurse-led advisory discussions, in collaboration with industry, to ensure that the nursing voice informs the patient experience - find out how you can get involved.

Early Bird registrations are now open for the 2026 CNSA Annual Congress, and we’re delighted to invite you to join us in Perth from 17–19 June 2026. This year’s Congress is built around a clear and purposeful program for cancer nurses, focused on how we can Innovate, Integrate, Advocate and Educate to elevate cancer nursing.

Last week saw an exciting development for Cancer Nurse Practitioners, who are now authorised to prescribe an expanded list of oncology and haematology medicines listed on the PBS General Schedule, further strengthening their ability to deliver timely, comprehensive cancer care.

CNSA is proud to partner with Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA) to launch the new Sarcoma CoP, created to support nurses with access to important information, resources and peer connection in this specialised area of cancer care.

CNSA has launched a new joint Position Statement with the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia on The Contribution of Nurses to Cancer Survivorship Care in Australia.

Today, on World Cancer Day 2026, the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) proudly launch a joint Position Statement on The Contribution of Nurses to Cancer Survivorship Care in Australia.

Read this Message from the President for important updates on the Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program, including recent announcements, upcoming information sessions, and how cancer nurses across all settings can continue to shape how this program is understood, integrated and funded into the future.

CNSA members are encouraged to take part in a national evaluation of the Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program (ACNNP) and the Cancer Patient Support Program (CPSP). These Programs are designed to improve access to information, navigation and wrap-around support for people impacted by cancer, and to integrate seamlessly with existing health services.

Planning is well underway for our 28th Annual Congress, taking place in Perth from 17–19 June, and it is shaping up to be the must-attend event on the cancer nursing calendar. We are delighted to announce our first keynote speakers Professor Kim Alexander, Professor Mei Krishnasamy and Daniel Johnstone (consumer and PhD Candidate), who will set the stage for an outstanding Congress program.

We're thrilled to open applications for the 2026 Mentoring Program, offering a unique opportunity for early-career cancer nurses across Australia to connect with experienced mentors and grow both professionally and personally.

This January we're excited to offer 15 months of CNSA membership for the price of 12* - valid right through to 31 March 2027.

In collaboration with Flinders University, CNSA is currently developing a capabilities framework for Australian Cancer Nurses. If you would like to participate in the Delphi study to obtain expert consensus and have not yet received an invitation through previous consultations, you can still express interest in being involved.

The Australian Government has announced $1 million to fund projects that build stronger networks between cancer services in outer metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote communities, and larger metropolitan centres.

We are pleased to advise that the Ordinary Resolution to extend the terms of office for three current Directors by one year — allowing each to serve up to seven consecutive years if re-elected — was passed by a majority vote.