Plenary Four: ADVOCATE | Access, Understanding and Voice

1.30pm – 3.15pm AWST, 19 June 2026 ‐ 1 hour 45 mins

Plenary Sessions

This plenary explores advocacy as a shared responsibility between cancer nurses, consumers and the broader health system. With genomics rapidly reshaping cancer treatment, nurses have a critical role in advocating for equitable access, supporting informed decision-making, and helping patients and families understand what new and emerging options may mean for their care.

The session will also feature a consumer perspective on the importance of asking the right questions, highlighting how patient voice, health literacy and respectful communication can transform cancer care and health education. Together, these presentations will challenge delegates to consider how nurses can use their clinical expertise, trusted relationships and advocacy voice to improve access, understanding and outcomes for all people affected by cancer.

The plenary will conclude with the unveiling of the CNSA Workforce Survey results, providing important evidence to inform national advocacy for the cancer nursing workforce, followed by the announcement of Congress award winners for best oral presentations. Together, the session highlights how cancer nurses can use emerging science, consumer insight, workforce data and professional excellence to advocate for a more equitable future in cancer care.

Speakers

Daniel Johnstone

Plenary Speaker

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Professor Kim Alexander

Plenary Speaker

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Daniel Johnstone

Plenary Speaker

Diagnosed with head and neck cancer at age 28, Daniel transformed his experience into a lifelong commitment to making healthcare more compassionate and human-centred. He is a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, where his research explores how lived-experience storytelling can foster empathy and reflexivity in healthcare students. Daniel is Chair of the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy & Research Consumer Advisory Group and an Executive Member of Cancer Voices SA, advocating for genuine consumer partnership in research, education, and policy to create systems that listen, learn, and care.  

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Professor Kim Alexander

Plenary Speaker

Kim Alexander holds a joint position as a Professor of Cancer Nursing at the School of Nursing, QUT, and Cancer Care Services, Metro North, Queensland Health. She is the current co-chair of the Queensland Collaborative for Cancer Survivorship. A cancer nursing specialist and senior academic, Kim has dedicated her career to cancer nursing, epidemiology, and survivorship research. Kim is passionate about transforming outcomes for people with cancer through predictive patient profiling using genomics and other techniques to inform tailored interventions. A key focus of her work is workforce upskilling in genomics to ensure the delivery of cutting-edge, personalised cancer care.