From the outback to oncology suites : Redefining cancer care for rural and Aborginal Australians.

Abstract

331 Background: For too long, an Aboriginal Australian's postcode has predicted their cancer outcome. In north-western New South Wales, vast distances, late diagnosis, and systemic disadvantage have created a cancer equity crisis. In 2011, we established the Moree Aboriginal Medical Oncology Outreach Clinic, a sustained hub and spoke model bringing specialist oncology directly into Aboriginal communities. This is not a pilot. It is a 15-year proof that equity is achievable. Methods: A prospective hub and spoke framework linked the Tamworth oncology hub to outreach clinics in Moree (2011) and Narrabri (2022). A multidisciplinary team including a medical oncologist, clinical nurse consultant, chemotherapy nurses, and social worker collaborated with Aboriginal health workers and local GPs. Telehealth was integrated across consultations, treatment monitoring, shared care follow-up, and tele-trials, enabling Aboriginal and rural patients to access clinical research without leaving their community. Service activity from January 2011 to October 2023 was analyzed descriptively. Results: Fifteen years of sustained outreach delivered measurable impact. In total, 1,851 unique patients were cared for including 362 Indigenous patients across 9,194 clinical occasions of service. A total of 10,422 chemotherapy and immunotherapy appointments were delivered locally. A total of 1,067 patients accessed 4,261 telehealth consultations with 76% satisfaction. Tele-trials dismantled the historic exclusion of Indigenous Australians from cancer research. Expansion to Narrabri in 2022 confirmed scalability. AUD 380,000 in Cancer Institute of NSW grants funded Aboriginal community engagement programs. When you bring care to the community, the community comes to care. Conclusions: The Moree Narrabri Oncology Outreach Model proves the tyranny of distance can be overcome. Integrating specialist outreach, telehealth, tele-trials, and Aboriginal community partnership into one scalable framework, this 15-year service is not just a model for Australia. It is a roadmap for every underserved community across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Where you live should never determine whether you live.