Agency information guide
An overview of the structure and functions of the Cancer Institute NSW and a guide to the resources and information available to the public.
Structure
The Cancer Institute NSW is led by the Chief Cancer Officer and
Chief Executive Officer, Professor David Currow, who is responsible
for the day-to-day running of the Cancer Institute NSW. The Chief
Operating Officer, Ms Beth Macauley and division heads
support the Chief Cancer Officer in achieving the objectives of the
Cancer Institute NSW.
The Cancer Institute NSW comprises four Divisions:
- Prevention
- Screening
- Cancer Services & Information
- Strategic Research Investment
These divisions are supported by:
- Finance & Administration
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Communications
View a functional
organisational chart of the Cancer Institute NSW
The Cancer Institute NSW is funded by the NSW State Government.
It is a statutory body governed by the Cancer Institute NSW Board.
We report to the Minister for Health and Minister for Medical
Research the Hon. Jillian Skinner MP.
- The Cancer Institute Board, consisting of the Chief Cancer
Officer and between 7 and 10 members appointed by the Minister,
governs the affairs of the Cancer Institute NSW.
- The Cancer
Institute Board reports to the Hon. Jillian Skinner MP,
Minister for Health and Minster for Medical Research.
- Advisory
Committees and Working Parties provide advice and assistance to
the Cancer Institute NSW in carrying out its functions.
- Read the Cancer Institute NSW Corporate
Governance Statement.
The Functions and how they affect members of the public
The Cancer Institute NSW was established in
July 2003 through the Cancer Institute NSW Act 2003 as a
response to the need to further decrease the devastating impact of
cancer on our society. Its functions, therefore, support the
overall mission of lessening the impact of cancer on members of the
public in NSW.
The provisions in this Act, require the Cancer
Institute NSW:
"to develop, in conjunction with the Department of Health
and public health organisations, a State Cancer Plan by 30 June
2004 for consideration by the Minister for Health and, in
conjunction with the Department of Health and public health
organisations, to review and recommend changes (if any) to the Plan
for consideration by the Minister for Health at least every 2 years
after that date (or within such other period as may be determined
by the Minister of Health)."
The Act defines "cancer control" as
"any cancer related activity in the field of human health
such as research, the practical application of research,
innovation, treatment and care (including palliative care,
supportive care and complementary health therapies), prevention,
screening, diagnosis, provision of information, training and
education."
The Cancer Institute NSW is charged with substantially improving
cancer control in NSW. The benefits of this for members of the NSW
public will be achieved by:
- reducing the incidence of cancer in NSW;
- increasing the survival rate for people diagnosed with
cancer;
- improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their
carers; and
- become a source of expertise on cancer and provide expert
advice to patients, the public, health care professionals and the
Government.
Information and public participation
The Cancer Institute NSW conducts, initiates and supports
activities, both internally and externally, which generate results,
findings and information of value to its mission to lessen the
impact of cancer on members of the public. A key function of the
Cancer Institute NSW is to ensure there is public access to this
information, subject to an overriding public interest against
it.
Mandatory proactive release
- The Agency information guide. On this
page you will find a comprehensive overview of the structure of the
Cancer Institute NSW, its functions and how they affect members of
the public. You will find a description of the kinds of information
held by the Cancer Institute NSW, and links to the information
which is publicly available.
- Information tabled in Parliament. Information about the Cancer
Institute NSW contained in any document tabled in Parliament by or
on behalf of the agency - such as Annual Reports and the NSW
Cancer Plan 2011-2015. The Annual Report, and the NSW Cancer Plan
2011-2015 are available in hard copy and can be mailed if
requested at no charge.
- A list of Cancer Institute NSW
policies which may be of specific interest to the public.
- The Disclosure Log which lists all formal
determinations made by the Cancer Institute NSW under GIPA, along
with the document released.
- Government contracts. Please click here to access the eTendering website for
information regarding the Cancer Institute NSW contracts at the
value of $150,000 and over that have gone to tender. The Cancer
Institute NSW contracts register lists contracts
valued at $150,000 or over with the private sector.
- Record of information not
made publicly available. The Cancer Institute NSW's record of
the information which it has not made publicly available on the
basis of an overriding public interest against disclosure.
Authorised Proactive release
Much of the information held by the Cancer Institute NSW is
already publicly available. The following are resources you may
wish to review, which are constantly updated:
You can ask the Cancer Institute NSW what information it will
make available to the public, in addition to the information
contained on its website. Under the GIPA Act, the Cancer Institute
NSW is encouraged to release as much information as possible, in an
appropriate way and free of charge (or at the lowest reasonable
rate).
- Informal release
You can request specific information from the Cancer Institute
NSW. Unless there is an overriding public interest against
disclosure, the Cancer Institute NSW will release information
without the need for a formal application, unless there are good
reasons to require one. Your first point of contact should be the
Right to Information Officer, see below for contact
information.
- Access application
This is the last resort, if you haven't been able to get the
information you need in any other way. You can formally request
specific information from the Cancer Institute NSW via the Right to
Information Officer. To request information held by the Cancer
Institute NSW, you should use the current
application form made available through the Information
and Privacy Commission.
The Cancer Institute NSW charges an application fee of
$30 for access applications. This fee can be paid by
cash, cheque or money order.
History of the Institute
The state's first cancer plan was
an important opportunity for participation of all stakeholders in
the community in the development of cancer control initiatives. It
covered the period 2004-2006 and was developed in consultation with
NSW Department of Health and other key stakeholders to build on and
enhance the valuable work already in progress in this State.
The NSW Cancer Plan 2007-2010 has
developed through wide consultation including a series of workshops
attended by some 500 cancer health professionals, patients and
carers, cancer organisations, researchers, government officials and
the public. The Cancer Plan was set within the context of two
broader planning processes: the NSW State Health Plan
2006-2010 and the NSW State Plan. The Plan focused
on five high priorities most likely to improve cancer results.
These were:
Priority #1 Preventing cancer
Priority #2 Detecting cancer early
Priority #3 Improving cancer services and professional
education
Priority #4 Accelerating improvement through research
Priority #5 Relevant data and information
Networking, interdependency and collective action were
fundamental components of the NSW Cancer Plan. The 2007-2010 NSW
Cancer Plan promoted greater collaboration between the Cancer
Institute NSW, Area Health Services, NSW Health, general
practitioners and non-government organisations charged with
improving cancer results and care. Such collaboration provided
great opportunity for substantially accelerating cancer control for
the people of New South Wales.
The NSW Cancer Plan 2011-15. This statewide
cancer plan provides an opportunity to identify areas where we have
succeeded and where we need to improve in cancer control. The plan
sets out the most important principles and actions that need to
take place to improve cancer outcomes. The investment in cancer
control will be carefully targeted to ensure the greatest impact
for the people of NSW.
In accordance with the
Cancer Institute (NSW) Act 2003, the Cancer Institute
NSW took the leadership role in developing this cancer plan,
in collaboration with consumers, state government, other cancer
control organisations, health care professionals and a broad range
of others affected by cancer and/or involved in cancer
control.
The Cancer Institute NSW, in leading the development of the cancer
plan, was guided by the goals of cancer control as stated in the
Cancer Institute (NSW) Act 2003.
Our goals are:
- to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with
cancer.
- to reduce the incidence of cancer in the community.
- to improve the quality of life of people diagnosed with cancer
and their carers.
- to operate as a source of expertise on cancer control for the
government, health service providers, medical researchers and the
general community.
The Act also identifies the guiding principles to be observed
when developing key cancer control actions to support these
goals.
These key principles include the need for:
- effective partnerships between the public sector (national and
state), the private sector and the general community.
- equitable, evidence based, patient centred approaches to the
care and treatment of people with cancer.
- cancer-related research that focuses on improving cancer
outcomes.
- high quality, coordinated and multidisciplinary care available
for all people diagnosed with cancer.
- maximise the benefit of resources available for cancer
control.
- provision of expert and up to date information about cancer
control.
In developing this plan it was important to consider the context
in which this cancer plan will be undertaken in NSW, in terms of:
existing state and national government strategic plans,
responsibilities and priorities; health system reform; the
experiences of people with cancer and their carers; other cancer
agencies; research institutions; and the private sector including
primary care.
The Cancer Institute NSW values your feedback and welcomes any
questions, concerns or comments relating to the Cancer Institute
NSW, our programs, services, employees or web site.
Use the contact
form on this website to register your feedback or request more
information. For more information on our commitment to feedback,
please read our Guarantee
of Service.
Subscribe to our
mailing list to receive the latest news and information from
the Cancer Institute NSW.
Cancer Institute NSW - Right to Information - Contact
details
The Cancer Institute NSW's general phone number is (02) 8374
5600.
The Institute's Right to Information Officer contact person is
Helen Juillerat.
Phone: (02) 8374 5677.
Postal address: PO Box 41, Alexandria NSW 1435
Email: helen.juillerat@cancerinstitute.org.au
For further information about the Right to Information, please
contact the Information and Privacy Commission on 1800
472 679 or visit their
website.
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