For many Australians, rapid advances in precision cancer and oncology research, diagnostics, treatment and risk prediction are significantly improving their health outcomes. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 40% more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. This likely reflects historical and contemporary inequities that impede access to cancer health care and research services, and systems that were not designed to adequately respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with or affected by cancer.
Barriers increase within a genomics context due to complex, identifiable data generated through genomic analysis, a lack of culturally informed systems and protocols (including the management and research of biospecimens and data), cultural insufficiency of primary and specialised healthcare and cancer workforces, and the lack of culturally informed resources. These and other issues are also reflected within cancer clinical trials environments where Indigenous identity collection is not mandatory nor collected and reported nationally.
Cancer Australia’s National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control engaged in a number of national consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and has centred and embedded “personalised equitable culturally safe cancer care” within 3 foundational and 4 strategic objectives.
To identify existing information and resource gaps Cancer Australia contracted the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) to conduct an environmental scan of cancer-specific genomics resources, materials, initiatives, programs, services and training opportunities designed by and for Indigenous Australians, mapped to the Framework’s 29 actions.
This presentation will:
i. provide an overview of existing barriers to, and opportunities for, engaging in precision oncology and cancer for Indigenous Australians
ii. address key initiatives that can increase engagement in cancer clinical trials
iii. provide an overview of, and recommendations for, the development of essential resources that increase engagement in precision oncology and cancer by Indigenous Australians.