Message from the President – Cancer Nurses Day 2026
Today is a day to celebrate you.
Whether you work in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, supportive care or end-of-life care, your leadership, specialist knowledge and compassion influence every stage of cancer care and make a lasting difference to patients and their families.
This year also marks the final year of our Strong. Skilled. Specialised. theme. Over the past three years, what began as a campaign has grown into something far more meaningful. These words have become a powerful statement about who cancer nurses are: strong in practice, skilled in care, and specialised in the essential contribution you make to people affected by cancer and to Australia's cancer care workforce.
As we reflect on everything this theme has come to represent, I'm proud to share two milestones that look ahead: the findings of the 2025 Cancer Nursing Workforce Survey and the launch of AusCaN - both of which are shaping the future of our profession in meaningful ways.
Completed by almost 1,000 cancer nurses from every state and territory, the Workforce Survey is the most comprehensive picture of our profession in years. It reflects a workforce that is passionate, highly capable and deeply committed, yet one that is also navigating increasing demand, growing complexity of care, and workforce shortages. Most importantly, it gives us a stronger voice.
Most importantly, the survey gives cancer nurses a stronger voice. It provides the evidence we need to advocate for the investment, education, workforce planning and career development our profession needs to thrive.
I encourage you to read the Workforce Survey Digest. I think you’ll be struck by how much we share across this remarkable profession.
While the Workforce Survey tells us where our profession is today, AusCaN provides a roadmap for the future. The Australian Cancer Nursing Capability Framework recognises the breadth of what you do, supports you at every stage of your career, and creates a shared language for capability, career development and workforce planning across Australia.
Together, these two milestones do more than document where we are and where we’re headed - they strengthen our case for what our profession needs; greater investment in specialist cancer nursing positions and nurse-led models of care, robust workforce planning, expanded education and career pathways, support for nurses to work to their full scope of practice, and the recognition you deserve for the essential role you play across Australia’s cancer care landscape.
As your professional body, CNSA will continue to use this evidence to drive real change, because celebrating you today must be matched by meaningful action that strengthens our profession for tomorrow.
Thank you for the care you provide, the knowledge you share, the leadership you bring every single day. The difference you make to people affected by cancer cannot be overstated, and I hope that today you take a quiet moment to feel truly proud of that.
On behalf of the CNSA Board and team, I wish you a wonderful Cancer Nurses Day. I am honoured to represent you, and I look forward to continuing to champion our profession together.
Happy Cancer Nurses Day.
Kind regards,
Professor Gemma McErlean,
CNSA President