Focus Cancer control Area served Australia Website www.cancervic.org.au | Location Victoria Key people Todd Harper, CEO | |
Slogan Research, Prevention, Support |
Cancer Council Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to reduce the impact of cancer in Victoria. It is an independent body that advises various groups, including government, on cancer-related issues. Cancer Council Victoria also conducts and funds cancer research, acts as an advocate for cancer patients and their families, and runs cancer prevention, education and support programs.
Contents
- History
- Significant contributions to cancer control
- Research
- Support and prevention
- Fundraising
- Structure
- References
Formerly known as The Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria, in 2002 the organisation rebranded itself as The Cancer Council Victoria. In 2008, 'The' was dropped from the name, giving the organisation its current name of 'Cancer Council Victoria'.
Its logo is the daffodil, used to symbolise hope.
History
The Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria was established by the Victorian Government in 1936 through the Anti-Cancer Council Act. This act specified that the newly established council should remain independent of the government.
Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop and Sir Peter MacCallum have been notable Chairs of the Cancer Council Executive Committee.
Cancer Council Victoria has a long history of anti-smoking advocacy, dating back to the early 1960s, even pre-dating the landmark 1964 US General Surgeon's Report on links between tobacco and cancer.
In 2011 Cancer Council Victoria celebrated its 75th year.
Significant contributions to cancer control
Cancer Council Victoria has contributed to cancer control in a number of areas. Of particular note:
Research
In 2009, Cancer Council Victoria spent $22.4 million on research programs. In 2010, $20.1 million was spent on research. Much of this research is conducted at Cancer Council Victoria itself, through the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Centre, and the Tobacco Control Unit.
Cancer Council Victoria funds clinical research into cancers of the bone, bowel, brain, breast, liver, lung, prostate, stomach and any other form of the disease.
In 2010 Cancer Council Victoria research was recognised by the SCImago Research Group as some of Australia's best. SCImago measured the rate at which an institute's research is the result of international collaboration and the rate at which it is published in high-quality journals – in both measures Cancer Council Victoria was in Australia's top five. In a measure of the rate at which Cancer Council Victoria's research is cited by other research institutes, the organisation was ranked number one in Australia, scoring 2.51 times the international average.
Support and prevention
In 2009, Cancer Council Victoria spent $22.4 million on education, prevention and support initiatives. In 2010 this amount had risen to $27 million.
Cancer Council Victoria has offered an information service to Victorians since 1940. Today, Cancer Council Victoria runs the Cancer Information and Support Service, which offers multi-lingual telephone support through the Cancer Council Helpline, online support through cancerconnections.com.au, one-on-one peer support through Cancer Connect, and a variety of other initiatives.
Cancer Council Victoria also facilitates or assists partner organisations in a variety of preventive programs and campaigns, such as:
Fundraising
Cancer Council Victoria works within Cancer Council Australia and alongside other states and territories to run a variety of fundraising events, such as:
Structure
Cancer Council Victoria is one of eight Cancer Council's from around Australia which make up Cancer Council Australia. Each individual Cancer Council operates in their individual states and territories: