COUCH Roundtable 2025

A ROADMAP turbo-charging clinical services at Cairns’ cancer centre in a bid to become a self-sustaining care hub has been released.

The business plan was requested by the Labor Party and LNP and has been sent to the Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler and key stakeholders.

It was a major action to come out of the Future of COUCH Roundtable held on March 21 attended by federal and state politicians, health, business and city leaders.

The roundtable identified $7.5 million over five years of core funding would be required to bridge the gap before the Cancer Wellness Centre would become self-sustaining.

Five-year federal funding through the North Queensland Primary Health Network ended in March with the centre now facing an uncertain future if it were to become fully reliant on philanthropic contributions and community donations.

Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health (COUCH) chairperson Dr Scott Davis said the business plan outlined how the centre would scale up its Patient-Centred Medical Home model, and transition to a General Practitioner (GP) led model specialising in cancer care.

“GPs will play the key role with a general practitioner based at the centre five days a week,” Dr Davis said.

“We have one cancer care nurse and one exercise physiologist at the moment but those numbers will grow. The plan is to add dietitians, mental health and other allied health professionals.”

COUCH will continue to provide its current services including the gym and custom exercise classes, oncology and lymphedema massage therapy, pilates, yoga, meditation, breath and Qi, circuit and strength classes along with a range of workshops enhancing social and peer connection.

The new model will substantially improve the coordination of care provided by COUCH and integrate seamlessly with other care providers in the local cancer ecosystem.

Dr Davis said the business plan detailed the estimated costs, revenue, workforce and patient numbers to transition the existing COUCH operations to the new financial operating model.

He said the plan would extend COUCH’s cancer care services, reaching further into rural and regional pockets of the Far North.

“I’m confident the plan will give both Labor and the LNP the level of detail they were looking for. We have also sent the plan to Kennedy MP Bob Katter as the area we service also falls into his electorate.

“We know that with the $7.5 million over five years we can significantly improve the outcomes for people living with cancer even more than we do now, which the state and federal health systems alone just can’t do on their own.

“That’s why we’re lobbying hard for this core funding to receive bipartisan support in this federal election campaign.”

The new model of care, in line with the Integrative Oncology and Wellness Centres in Cancer Care, 3 November 2022 paper, will help about 1400 people achieve a better quality of life through more than 20,000 occasions of care.

“This is about improving lives. What we do at the centre is evidence-based and proven to benefit clients,” Dr Scott said.

“This service is the envy of metropolitan and regional centres and should act as a survivorship template for other areas.”

For more information contact:

Partnerships and Marketing Manager

Jennifer Spilsbury

partnerships@couch.org.au

P: (07) 40320820 M:0466064335