World Cancer Day | New Joint CNSA–COSA Cancer Survivorship Position Statement
Aligned with the World Cancer Day theme United by Unique, this statement places people living with and beyond cancer at the centre of care and recognises the essential role nurses play within multidisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated, equitable and person-centred survivorship care.
With more than 1.66 million people in Australia now living with a history of cancer, survivorship care is no longer a future consideration. It is a core part of cancer care today. Yet many people continue to experience unmet physical, psychosocial and practical needs long after treatment ends. This Position Statement responds directly to that challenge.
What does the Position Statement mean in practice?
The statement outlines 40 recommendations across service delivery, research, education and policy, with a strong focus on enabling nurses to work to their full scope of practice in survivorship care. These recommendations provide a practical roadmap to:
- Strengthen nurse-led and nurse-enabled models of survivorship care
- Improve continuity, coordination and navigation across services
- Support nurses at different levels of practice to deliver survivorship care safely and effectively
- Align education, workforce planning and service design with clearly defined nursing capabilities
- Advocate for policy and funding settings that recognise and leverage nursing contribution
Importantly, the statement reinforces evidence that nurse-led survivorship models are safe, effective and highly valued by people affected by cancer, while supporting better outcomes for individuals and the health system.
Practical resources to support implementation
To support nurses interested in translating these recommendations into practice, CNSA has launched a new Cancer Survivorship resources page on our website. This page brings together key guidance, research and education relevant to nurses looking to implement survivorship care and develop nurse-led models of care in a range of settings.
We encourage you to explore and share these resources within your teams and services.
What happens next?
In 2026, CNSA will build on this work with an increased focus on putting survivorship into action, including:
- Establishing a Cancer Survivorship Community of Practice to support shared learning, collaboration and practical implementation
- Expanding education and professional development aligned to survivorship capability
- Supporting the development and scaling of nurse-led and nurse-enabled models of care
- Continuing advocacy to ensure nurses are recognised, supported and enabled to work to their full scope within multidisciplinary teams
This Position Statement reflects the collective expertise of our members and partners, and it provides a strong platform for shaping the future of cancer survivorship care in Australia.
We encourage you to read the statement, explore the survivorship resources, and consider how this work can support your practice and the people you care for.
