$23 million investment for prostate cancer nurse program

Thousands of Australian men with prostate cancer and their families will benefit from an expansion of the Australian Government’s Prostate Cancer Nurses Program.

The Government is investing $23 million in the program through the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia over the next three years to support existing prostate cancer nurses and place specialist nurses.

Prostate cancer is estimated to be the second most common cause of cancer death in Australian men in 2020, with an estimated 3,152 deaths.

Sadly, more than 16,700 Australian men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

Since 2013, this program has funded the recruitment, training and placement of prostate cancer nurses in 29 locations across the country.

The 2020-21 round of funding will employ nurses at 24 health services or cancer centres.

The Government is committed to improving health outcomes for men with prostate cancer and provides significant investment through provision of specialised nurses, medical services though the Medicare Benefits Scheme and pharmaceuticals through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Since 2013, the Government has also provided over $84 million in support for prostate cancer research through the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centres, the National Health and Medical Research Council and Cancer Australia.

New nurse locations in 2020-21