Grampians Integrated Cancer Service - GICS

21/12/2025

🏥 GICS Office Closure 🏥

Some lucky members of our team are taking a break and our offices will be closed from Monday 22 December 2025 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.

If you have any enquiries of an urgent nature, please email the GICS Mailbox at gics@gh.org.au which will be monitored during this time.

💚 We send you and your loved ones our best wishes this festive season 💚

18/12/2025

GICS Newsletter - Summer 2025

We welcome you to the 🌞 Summer edition 🌞 of our newsletter where we share updates on our program of work along with news, events and education opportunities from across the cancer sector.

👀 Read it now 🔗 https://bit.ly/48MSgv6

18/11/2025

🗣️🗣️Communication Strategies in Patient Care - Free Online Course 🗣️🗣️

Experts from the VCCC Alliance have designed a new online education program for clinical staff to practice and refine their patient communication skills.

This 3 hour course is aimed at clinical staff, particularly those working in supportive and palliative care, chronic pain management, and end of life care, as well as general practice, nursing and allied health.

Find out more and register here 🔗 https://vcccalliancelearn.org.au/courses/communication-strategies-patient-care?utm_source=VCCC+Alliance+Master+Database&utm_campaign=dbd7d10764-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_07_17_04_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d28c965baa-137074956&mc_cid=dbd7d10764&mc_eid=11a40c741f

06/11/2025

GICS have collaborated with St John of God Ballarat Hospital to launch a pilot nurse-led survivorship clinic, designed to support cancer patients after completing treatment.

This initiative addresses a vital gap in care, offering tailored support for patients navigating life beyond cancer.

Led by Angela Meaney, Cancer and Palliative Care Coordinator (pictured below), the clinic commenced on 3 October 2025 and is held weekly on Friday mornings at the Outpatients Rehab at SJOG-B.

Find out more here - https://vics.org.au/about/news/pilot-nurse-led-survivorship-clinic-launched

In collaboration with GICS, St John of God Hospital (Ballarat) launch a pilot Nurse-Led Survivorship Clinic

02/11/2025

We've launched our 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants for projects that will deliver improvements in systems and processes.

Grants of up to $50,000 will be available and applications close on 18 November 2025.

We've developed a video to showcase some of the projects we've supported in recent years.

Watch the video, download our Grant Guidelines and find out more here - https://vics.org.au/about/news/gics-launch-2025-26-service-improvement-grants

29/10/2025

We've recently celebrated 20 years and we would like to acknowledge the valuable partnerships we have developed with our regions' member health services, committees and consumers.

We strive to work towards better outcomes for people affected by cancer and our 2025 Annual Forum provided an opportunity for us to look back and acknowledge the maturity of the GICS program of work and it's vast array of achievements over the years.

Check out a snapshot of our event, celebrating our 20 year history - https://vics.org.au/about/news/gics-2025-annual-forum-celebrating-20-years

26/10/2025

📢 We have news!! 📢

Check out our Spring 2025 newsletter which includes the following updates:
🌳 Celebrating 20 Years

💰 Service Improvement Grants - Now Open!

✅ Colonoscopy Access Project Update

🏥 VICS Head & Neck Cancer Optimal Care Summit

🗣️ Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) Corner

🫶 Meet the regions Cancer Support Nurses

🗞️ Plus much more...

You can read it here - https://bit.ly/3LdS8uZ

09/10/2025

APPLY NOW!

We were very excited to launch our 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants at our Annual Forum this week.

GICS offers Service Improvement Grants biannually to provide significant funding for projects that will deliver improvements in systems and processes – thereby improving treatment and support for people diagnosed with cancer in the Grampians region.

Do you have a problem or an issue that needs to be addressed?

Do you have an idea that can lead to improving the experiences and outcomes of those affected by cancer?

If you answered yes, then we want to hear from you!

Grants of up to $50,000 will be available – applications close on Tuesday 18 November 2025.

Download our application guidelines and find out more information here - https://vics.org.au/gics/grants

mecwacare (Ballan) | Austin Health (BAROC) | Beaufort and Skipton Health Service | Central Highlands Rural Health | East Grampians Health Service | Grampians Health | MDHS - Maryborough District Health Service | Rural Northwest Health |
St John of God Ballarat Hospital | West Wimmera Health Service

08/10/2025

Last night we hosted our 2025 Annual Forum and we can confirm it was a great success!

We would like to thank all our guests, who came from near and far, to join us in celebrating our 2️⃣0️⃣ year history.

A huge shout out to our wonderful presenters who shared the incredible work GICS has achieved to date.

- Jane Auchettl | MC
- Phillip Catterson | Opening Address
- Kerry Davidson | Celebrating 20 Years
- Hannah Ryan-West | GICS Consumers
- Fiona Hodder | GICS Colonoscopy Access Project
- Dr Fletcher Davies | Event Close

We'd like to highlight the aboriginal artwork created to mark the commemorative anniversary for the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) of 20 years: 'Healing Journeys' by artist Vegas Fitzmaurice, 2025.

Special thanks goes to The Goods Shed Ballarat for providing the delicious food and amazing service; to Dave at Austage Events for the nights tech support, to Gardenia Magnifica Flowers for the beautiful native floral display and to Terry Hope for the engaging video presentations and event photography.
(Photo credit: https://www.thp.com.au/)

We were very excited to launch our 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants - apply now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/giedhj8H

Victorian Department of Health | TogetherForBetterCancerCare

25/09/2025

❓Do you provide in the Grampians region?

❓Do you have a cancer idea that could make real impact?

We are pleased to share that our 2025-26 Service Improvement Grants are coming soon. 💡

We'll be launching our next round of funding early next month - keep an eye on our socials / website and 'subscribe' to our email newsletter for more information.

Subscribe here 🔗 https://cdn.forms-content.sg-form.com/a9f31d39-7f2c-11ed-ad2a-b273b277972d

24/09/2025

Do you have a lived experience of cancer? Do you live in a rural and remote area?

Your voice matters - opening next week is a public consultation opportunity for the Optimal Care Pathway for People with Cancer Living in Rural and Remote Areas.

This consultation is your opportunity to help shape cancer care pathways that truly reflect community needs and strengthen outcomes for people with cancer in rural and remote areas.

This important initiative is being delivered by Deakin University and Cancer Council Australia, funded through the National Cancer Patient Support Program by the Victorian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Find out more and to receive the consultation link next week, express your interest here: 🔗 https://ecorra.deakin.edu.au/register-your-interest-ocp/

16/09/2025

GICS 2025 Annual Forum - we're on the count down ⏱️

Please join us for a dinner event on Tuesday 7 October at The Goods Shed, Ballarat, where we will be celebrating 20 years.

Have you registered? It's not too late - RSVP by Mon 22 Sept via the link below.

🔗 https://forms.office.com/r/nfyCQcVh8L?origin=lprLink