Contribution of Cancer Nurses Position Statement

In this episode of Nursing Excellence in Cancer Care, CNSA CEO Jemma Still and President Anne Mellon unpack why 2026 is a pivotal year for cancer nursing in Australia. They discuss workforce pressures and burnout, the redevelopment of the Australian Cancer Nursing Framework, national moves toward post‑graduate accreditation, and CNSA’s new cancer nursing education portal.

Cancer Australia has released a new report following the Understanding the Cancer Workforce Workshop, a national consultation that brought together leaders from across the cancer sector, including representatives from CNSA. The workshop explored the growing pressures on the cancer workforce and the changes needed to ensure Australia can continue to deliver high-quality cancer care into the future.

In this episode of Nursing Excellence in Cancer Care, we have collaborated with Palliative Care Nurses Australia to talk about the real, human side of end‑of‑life cancer care. They explore what palliative care nursing really involves, how oncology and palliative teams can work together, and practical ways to respond when patients and families ask confronting questions like “Am I dying?”

A group of researchers from Ireland, United Kingdom, and Australia evaluated nurse-doctor substitution in inpatient units and outpatient clinics, analyzing 82 randomized studies involving over 28,000 patients across 20 countries. The review found little to no difference between nurse-led and doctor-led care for critical outcomes, including mortality, quality of life, self-efficacy, and patient safety events.

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.