Policy & Advocacy Update - Vicki Durston - August26
Hi everyone, As BCNA begins planning our next Policy & Advocacy Strategy, I wanted to share some important updates about the work we're doing to ensure the voices of Australians affected by breast cancer continue to drive change. Help Shape BCNA's Future Advocacy Priorities 💗 At BCNA, our advocacy starts with listening. We've recently launched a national survey, in collaboration with Deakin University, to help inform BCNA's next Policy & Advocacy Strategy. This is your opportunity to tell us what matters most to you and where you believe BCNA should focus its advocacy efforts over the next four years. Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with metastatic breast cancer, undergoing treatment, or years beyond diagnosis, your experiences and insights are invaluable. We're particularly keen to hear from a diverse range of people across Australia, including those living in regional and rural communities, people from different cultural backgrounds, and those with a variety of breast cancer experiences. 👉 Access the survey and have your say here Your feedback will help us understand: What's working well Where gaps remain The challenges people continue to face Where BCNA can have the greatest impact The survey takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete and closes on 26 August 2026. Every response helps strengthen BCNA's consumer-led advocacy and ensures our future priorities reflect the real needs of our community. If you haven't already, I encourage you to take part and share the survey with others affected by breast cancer who may wish to contribute. Taking Breast Cancer Issues to Parliament House 🏛️ Advocacy often happens behind the scenes, but it's a vital part of BCNA's work. Recently, BCNA met with federal parliamentarians in Canberra to ensure the experiences and priorities of people affected by breast cancer continue to be heard at the highest levels of government. These discussions focused on several key issues, including: Access to breast cancer medicines and treatments Breast screening reform Support for people living with metastatic breast cancer Challenges facing people affected by breast cancer across Australia Meetings like these help us build relationships with decision-makers and keep consumer experiences front and centre in policy discussions. While meaningful change can take time, ongoing engagement with government is essential to progressing reforms that improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by breast cancer. As the national voice for Australians affected by breast cancer, BCNA will continue advocating for the issues that matter most to our community. Progress Towards a Sustainable Option for Zoladex patients 💊 Our continued advocacy, including in Canberra has led to an important development in securing a sustainable monthly ovarian suppression option ahead of the planned delisting of Zoladex® 3.6mg from the PBS on 1 November 2026. At a recent out-of-session meeting, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended triptorelin (Diphereline®) 3.75mg for PBS listing for breast cancer. While government approval and final listing arrangements are still required, this recommendation is a positive step towards maintaining access to a monthly ovarian suppression treatment through the PBS. For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, ovarian suppression is an important part of treatment. The planned withdrawal of Zoladex 3.6mg has understandably created uncertainty for those who rely on monthly treatment. Since the withdrawal was announced, BCNA has worked closely with consumers, clinicians, government and industry to help identify a sustainable alternative. As part of the our breast cancer discussions with Parliemnt House, we also convened an urgent national roundtable to ensure the concerns and experiences of those affected were heard directly by decision-makers. This recommendation reflects the collective efforts of consumers, clinicians and the broader breast cancer community. BCNA will continue advocating on this issue and provide updates as PBS listing and supply arrangements are confirmed. BreastScreen Australia Review: Positive Progress, But Funding Matters 🎗️ BCNA has welcomed the release of the long-awaited BreastScreen Australia Review and the agreement by Australian governments on a new National Strategic Framework to guide the future of the program. The review recognises BreastScreen Australia as a trusted and effective program that saves lives through early detection. It also identifies opportunities to improve participation, strengthen quality and safety, reduce inequities, and modernise the program. We're pleased to see commitments to begin work on: A national annual screening policy A National Participation Strategy Improvements to quality and safety These are positive steps forward. However, BCNA remains concerned that the funding announced to support reform does not yet match the scale of the changes identified in the review. For many communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and women living in regional and remote areas, barriers to screening continue to exist. BCNA will continue advocating for meaningful investment to ensure everyone can access high-quality breast screening services, regardless of where they live. As governments move from review to implementation, it's essential that consumer voices remain at the centre of the reform process. Lived experience must continue to help shape the future of breast screening in Australia. You can read more about BCNA's response to the review here: 🔗 https://www.bcna.org.au/latest-news/bcna-news/bcna-welcomes-breastscreen-review-warns-on-funding Thank You 🌸 Everything we achieve through advocacy is strengthened by the voices of people affected by breast cancer. Whether you're completing a survey, sharing your story, participating in consultations, or contributing here in the Online Network, you're helping shape a better future for our community. Thank you for your ongoing support and for helping ensure that lived experience remains at the heart of BCNA's advocacy work. Warm regards, Vicki Durston Policy & Advocacy Director Breast Cancer Network Australia
