First national Optimal Care Pathway for children with cancer

The pathway will help improve care and outcomes for children with cancer, while better supporting families and carers. It will map best practice care across the full cancer care continuum, including prevention and early detection, treatment, supportive care, survivorship and end-of-life care.

Children with cancer have distinct needs and require specialised, age-appropriate care and support. The new pathway will promote consistent, high-quality and evidence-based care across Australia, while helping families understand what optimal care should look like at each stage.

The pathway will be developed in collaboration with Victoria’s Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service and the Australia and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group, with input from clinicians, researchers, health and community service providers, advocates and people with lived experience.

Resources will also be developed in multiple languages to support accessibility for diverse communities.

The initiative aligns with Cancer Australia’s National Optimal Care Pathways Framework, the Children, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Roadmap, and the Australian Cancer Plan, with a focus on improving equity for children affected by cancer regardless of where they live.