Developing an Optimal Care Pathway for People with Disability
Around 1 in 6 (18%) people in Australia, or about 4.4 million, have disability,1 representing a significant proportion of our population. People with disability experience disparities in health outcomes across the cancer continuum, from prevention to end-of-life care.2 As a result, cancer is one of the main contributors to the excess mortality among people with disability.3 Evidence-informed, national guidance that outlines best practice for cancer care for people with disability is a critical step to reducing these inequities.
The Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are a framework for the delivery of consistent, safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care for people with cancer. They provide guidance for every stage of cancer care from prevention and early detection through to recovery, living with a chronic disease, or end-of-life care. They are a key deliverable of the Australian Cancer Plan. People with disability are recognised in the Australian Cancer Plan as one of 10 priority population groups requiring focused action to achieve equitable cancer outcomes, including the development of an OCP.
Cancer Council Australia will partner with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and the Melbourne Disability Institute to develop a new Optimal Care Pathway for people with disability.
This new Optimal Care Pathway will address unique barriers faced by people with disability, promoting equitable access to high-quality cancer care.
Project details
This is an 18-month project, commencing in January 2026. The project will follow the National Optimal Care Pathways Framework and OCP Toolkit. Key project activities include the formation of a working group, a literature review, and the development of the OCP and supporting resources.
Project funding
This project is funded by the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Project team
- Kate Whittaker, Cancer Council Australia
- Laura Woods, Cancer Council Australia
- Annabel Sexton, Cancer Council Australia
- Matthew Hall, The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Jim Valavanis, The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Yi Yang, Melbourne Disability Institute
- Stefanie Dimov, The University of Melbourne
For any questions about the project, please contact: cancercontrolpolicy@cancer.org.au
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This Cancer Patient Support Program received grant funding from the Australian Government.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. People with disability in Australia. Canberra: AIHW; 2024.
- Tosetti I, Kuper H. Do people with disabilities experience disparities in cancer care? A systematic review. PLoS One. 2023;18(12):e0285146.
- Yang Y, Summers P, Aitken Z, Kavanagh A, Disney G. All-cause and cause-specific mortality inequalities between people with and without disability: a nationwide data linkage study in Australia. Lancet Public Health. 2025;10(1):e11–e9.