The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research is a highly anticipated centre that will deliver technologically advanced precision radiation therapy, providing treatment to children, adolescents and adults.
Julie McCrossin AM, renowned former ABC radio broadcaster and a survivor of head and neck cancer herself, hosted a series of webinars produced by SAHMRI and the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy in preparation for bringing proton treatment to Australia.
These webinars addressed how we can improve the radiation experience for patients and families.
Our most recent, second webinar series, produced and broadcast in early 2021, included presentations from the Rutherford Cancer Centres in the UK, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. We also spoke with Shona Edwards, a young adult treated at the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague.
We also explored the special needs of children, adolescents and young adults during cancer treatment. We spoke to family members and cancer teams at the Cancer Centre for Children at Westmead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.
Our final webinar sought to identify what we need to do to Close The Gap for our First Nations people. We visited Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Unit, the Alan Walker Cancer Centre Darwin and Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.
All of our webinars can be found on the SAHMRI & Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuiDs88eLL358mWJ_9HhCdg/featured
Our 2020 series included presentations from clinicians from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, The Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and specialists in architecture and interiors from the global architecture studio Woods Bagot. They along with patients and families and representatives from non-government organisations shared their thoughts and reflections on system and infrastructure design that can help to improve the patient experience.
A highlight of the webinars were photographs and videos showing how international proton therapy centres and Australian radiation centres design their rooms, equipment and wrap around services for their patients and family members.
By sharing national and international examples of compassionate and innovative care, we hoped to benefit the broader radiation oncology community as well as incorporate innovations into the new proton centre in Adelaide.