Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Bridge2Health: Building capacity to navigate the Australian cancer health care system for culturally and linguistically diverse cancer patients (146252)

Alexia Koutoulas 1 , Lauren Zarb 2 3 , Mai Vu 2 3 , Steven Tahtalian 2 , Maryaan Essa 2 , Amelia Hyatt 2 , Bec Benini 4 , Krystina Savvas 4 , Linny K Phuong 4 , Alesha Thai 3 5
  1. Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , Melbourne, Australia
  3. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. The Water Well Project, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. Department of Oncology, Sir Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Background 
People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds experience poorer cancer outcomes than English-speaking Australians1,2. Limited understanding of the Australian Cancer Health Care System (ACHCS) and low awareness of available support services contribute to difficulties navigating care, poorer patient experiences, and worse health outcomes3-6. Previous work at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Austin Health identified gaps in understanding specialist roles within cancer care and limited awareness of interpreter services among CALD cancer patients.

Aim 

To co-design culturally tailored videos and community education sessions that improve understanding of the ACHCS and increase awareness of Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) among Arabic and Vietnamese-speaking cancer patients and carers. 

Methods 

This study adopts Boyd et al.'s six-stage co-design framework (Engage, Plan, Explore, Develop, Decide, Change)7 to actively involve consumers, community members and health professionals in resource development. Workshop and interview questions are informed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's health literacy model8, which recognises health literacy as both an individual capability and a feature of the health literacy environment. This approach allows exploration of patients' knowledge, skills and confidence in navigating cancer care, alongside system-level factors that influence access, understanding and engagement. Findings will inform the development of multilingual educational videos and community education sessions focused on navigating the ACHCS and accessing TIS National. Resources will be evaluated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT-A/V)9 and qualitative feedback. 

Results 
Recruitment is underway for approximately 5-8 health care professionals, and 10-16 Arabic and Vietnamese-speaking patients, carers, and community members. Co-design, data collection and resource development activities are anticipated to be completed within 12 months. 

Conclusion 
Bridge2Health addresses inequities in cancer care by improving health literacy and care navigation among CALD communities, while providing a scalable model for culturally tailored cancer education.

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  2. Hanna, T. P., King, W. D., Thibodeau, S., Jalink, M., Paulin, G. A., Harvey-Jones, E., O'Sullivan, D. E., Booth, C. M., Sullivan, R., & Aggarwal, A. (2020). Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 371, m4087. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4087
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  7. Boyd, H., McKernon, S., Mullin, B., & Old, A. (2012). Improving healthcare through the use of co-design. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1357), 76–87. https://ayacancernetwork.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Co-design-article.pdf   
  8. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health. (2012). Health literacy. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards/partnering-consumers-standard/health-literacy   
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