NSW Chronic Care Program
The NSW Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
(2004 - 2007)
The NSW Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
project was funded from 2004 - 2007 by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The project focused on a multidisciplinary approach to care and support for women in rural areas diagnosed with breast cancer. The project had a range of strategies that were implemented by project partners including the NSW Breast Cancer Institute, Cancer Council NSW, College of Nursing and YWCA
Representatives of The Breast Cancer Action Group NSW and Cancer Institute were also members of the steering committee, which provided advise and support for the project.
The aim of the project
To improve access for women with breast cancer in rural areas to support
services, advice and information about breast cancer.
The objectives of this project were to increase:
- the number of rural nursing staff including Aboriginal Health Workers
with knowledge and understanding of breast cancer
- access for rural women with breast cancer to rehabilitative programs
to increase mobility and increase well being
- the number of group leaders available in rural areas to support breast
cancer programs.
Project Strategies undertaken by project partners were:
| Project partners |
Strategies |
| Cancer Council
NSW |
- Workshops to train rural peer support facilitators.
|
| NSW Breast Cancer
Institute |
- Development and delivery of 5 day nurse practicum in breast
cancer and scholarships for 20 rural nurses
- Support broadcast of the annual Public Forum in 2004, 2005 and
2006
- Disseminate resources developed by the NSW BCI to libraries
and community health centres across NSW.
|
| The
College of Nursing |
- 20 scholarships for rural nurses including Aboriginal nurses
to attend the Graduate Certificate in Nursing 2005-06 and 2006-07
- Rural workshops in breast cancer care and support for local
health professionals including Aboriginal Health Workers.
|
| YWCA - Encore Program |
- Workshop to train rural program co-ordinators
- Establish 6 new Encore sites in rural areas
- Provision of information and support resources, including information
about lymphoedema to women participating in Encore programs.
|
For further information or to subscribe to the Chronic Care Listserve
please contact the NSW Chronic Care Unit on 02 9391 9820 or email chroniccare@doh.health.nsw.gov.au.
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