News

Know a cancer nurse who isn’t yet part of CNSA? Now is a great time to bring them into the community.

CNSA's NEW Cancer Nursing Learning Hub is now live on Florence - the FREE learning platform built for nurses.

EOIs for the Pre-Congress Symposiums (full-day and half-day) and Concurrent Sessions for the 29th CNSA Annual Congress are now open.

Across August and September, CNSA Communities of Practice continued to bring cancer nurses together to share knowledge, experiences and practical ideas from across the country. Seven CoPs met during this period, covering everything from clinical ethics and survivorship to rare cancers, supportive care and emerging treatments.

Navigating upper gastrointestinal cancers is challenging enough without worrying about what to eat. Knowing how to maintain good nutrition can feel overwhelming, but access to the right nutrition support can make a meaningful difference, helping patients and carers feel more confident throughout treatment and recovery.

The McGrath Foundation is offering 15 individual scholarships to cancer nurses to undertake the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing - Cancer Nursing, offered at Monash University.  

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has recently published the latest national workforce data from the annual registration process, together with data from a workforce survey that is voluntarily completed at the time of registration, providing an updated picture of the size and growth of Australia’s cancer nursing workforce. We've pulled it all into a snapshot to make it easy for you to digest.

On 7 September, the global cancer community will mark World Radiotherapy Awareness Day under the theme One Voice for Radiotherapy. The day aims to build understanding of the essential role radiation therapy plays in cancer treatment and recognise the multidisciplinary teams who make safe, high-quality radiotherapy care possible.

Following the Australian Government’s announcement of changes to the funding of prostate cancer nursing positions, CNSA President Professor Gemma McErlean reflects on what must remain at the centre of the transition: protecting specialist expertise, continuity of care and recognising the contribution of every cancer nurse.

With the introduction of the Australian Cancer Nursing Capability Framework (AusCaN), educators have an important opportunity for collective reflection, partnership and collaboration, to ensure that vital education and training pathways continue to support contemporary cancer nursing practice.

“Your knowledge changes treatment. Your compassion changes experiences.” Cancer nurses are often the constant presence through some of the most uncertain moments in a person’s life. Following Cancer Nurses Day, CNSA Legal Supporter Slater and Gordon Lawyers reflects on the impact of Australia’s strong, skilled and specialised cancer nursing workforce.

CNSA welcomes the launch of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy - a vision to grow, support and retain Australia's nursing workforce and a framework for collective action to tackle workforce challenges and create opportunities for nurses to continue delivering high-quality care.

There’s still time to get more involved with CNSA - but not much! Applications to join our State Group Committees and Specialist Practice Network close this Friday, 21 August at 5pm AEST.

On Thursday 13 August, cancer nurses and their teams came together across Australia to celebrate, connect and recognise the incredible contribution of our profession. From morning teas and team lunches to decorations, photo walls, awards and moments of recognition, we loved seeing Cancer Nurses Day come to life in so many different ways - and in workplaces and communities right across the country.

On Cancer Nurses Day, the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia is calling for greater recognition of cancer nurses as strong, skilled and specialised professionals who are central to the delivery of high-quality cancer care.

As I mark my first Cancer Nurses Day as President of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, I feel incredibly proud to recognise the extraordinary contribution cancer nurses make to the lives of people affected by cancer across Australia.

In her latest article, Dr Carla Thamm shares the story behind AusCaN, from building on the legacy of EdCaN to creating a contemporary Framework that reflects the breadth and complexity of cancer nursing today.

Cancer Nurses Day is fast approaching, and we're excited to see so many organisations across Australia already planning their celebrations.

If you've been looking for an opportunity to become more involved with CNSA, now is the time.

The Cancer Nurses Society of Australia is delighted to announce that Ellen Heywood will continue in her role as Vice President.

The Cancer Nurses Society of Australia is delighted to welcome Professor Gemma McErlean as our new President.

As the Australian Cancer Nursing Capability Framework (AusCaN) is introduced across the profession, one of the most common questions is: What is the difference between capability and competency? While the terms are often used interchangeably, they describe different aspects of professional practice.

Last week we were proud to launch the Australian Cancer Nursing Capability Framework - AusCaN - a shared national standard for the cancer nursing workforce, supporting every nurse to deliver their best. Developed through a collaborative partnership between CNSA and Flinders University, AusCaN defines the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours expected of nurses working in cancer care across Australia.

CNSA is proud to congratulate the recipients of the 2026 CNSA Annual Congress Grant Program. Through this program, we invest in nurses who are committed to improving cancer care while building knowledge and expertise that benefits the wider profession.

At the recent Annual Congress, Anne Mellon stepped down as CNSA President. Throughout her term, Anne provided exceptional leadership during a period of significant opportunity for cancer care in Australia. Her collaborative approach was evident through the strong relationships she built across the sector, particularly during the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan and the establishment of the Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program.

CNSA is delighted to announce that Catherine Johnson AM was recently awarded Life Membership, recognising more than three decades of exceptional leadership, service and contribution to cancer nursing in Australia and internationally.

One of the highlights of Congress each year is the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of cancer nurses through the CNSA Congress Awards.

At the CNSA Annual General Meeting on 19 June the results of the recent online Board election were announced, and we warmly welcomed three newly elected Directors to the CNSA Board. This refreshed Board will continue to guide CNSA’s strategic direction and strengthen our impact for cancer nurses across Australia.

Thanks to our partnership with MooGoo Skincare, eight outstanding cancer nurses have been awarded a combined $34K in scholarship funding to support their post graduate study and professional development.