Strengthening Support for Women with Breast Cancer (SSWBC)

SSWBC Resources

A comprehensive list of resources developed under the Strengthening Support for Women with Breast Cancer (SSWBC) program is now available on the NBCC website http://www.nbcc.org.au/about/programs.html

SSWBC Project Background

In the May 1999 Federal budget, funding of $4.1 million over four years was announced for a new program—Strengthening support for women with breast cancer (SSWBC). The initiative focuses on improving support for women diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly women living in rural and remote areas. In NSW, coordination of the project is by the NSW Breast Cancer Institute working in collaboration with established groups, including the Breast Cancer Action Group NSW, NSW Cancer Council and rural Area Health Services through Area Women’s Health Coordinators.

SSWBC BCI Project Objectives

Resource and Contact Centre

• To support and resource health professionals and clinicians

Health professional education

• To explore the feasibility of breast nurse clinical education and training
• To support breast cancer management, education and training for General Practitioners

Consumer education

• To coordinate satellite broadcast of an annual Public Forum to NSW rural and remote sites.
• To continue to develop patient fact sheets which meet the needs of women with breast cancer
• To assist the NSW Cancer Council to develop a systematic approach to the education, training and resourcing of support services personnel across NSW.

Web-based technology

• To develop a database for listing breast cancer treatment and services available in NSW.
• To develop e-learning facilities for health professionals and consumer.

SSWBC Advisory Committee to the NSW Breast Cancer Institute

Terms of Reference

• To provide specialised advice on issues related to the SSWBC project objectives.
• To provide communication and network links between SSWBC project team (NSW BCI) and key stakeholders in NSW.
• To review progress reports prior to submission to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

Membership

• Chair: Dr Andrew Penman (CEO, NSW Cancer Council) (Chair)
• Members: Ms Sally Crossing (Chair, BCAG NSW)
• A/Professor John Boyages (Executive Director, NSW BCI)
• Dr Stuart Porges
• NSW Dept of Health Representative

SSWBC Background paper

This paper can be accessed from URL http://www.nbcc.org.au/bestpractice/resources/SSR_strengtheningsupport.pdf

Multi-disciplinary Support Services Delivery Model

Orange Workshop

Orange, 19 March 2002

Health and consumer representatives from Orange and the central western district of NSW, used the DATES framework (Diagnosis, Assessment, Treatment, Effective Follow-up, Self) to map the current pathways of care in their rural location, identify gaps and, identify and prioritise potential solutions. Members of the the SSWBC (Strengthening Support for Women with Breast Cancer) Advisory Committee—Dr Andrew Penman (CEO, Cancer Council NSW), Ms Sally Crossing (Chair, Breast Cancer Action Group NSW), Professor John Boyages and, Mr Stuart Porges (Breast Surgeon, Orange NSW) also participated in the workshop.

The main objective of this facilitated workshop was to develop a model for the delivery of multidisciplinary support services in the rural and regional areas of NSW. A draft report will be distributed to participants at the end of May 2002. The next workshop will be conducted in June at another rural location yet to be decided.

Port Macquarie Workshop

Port Macquarie, 18 June 2002

On Tuesday, 18 June, health and consumer representatives of the Mid-North Coast and Manning Area Health Services used the DATES© framework to map the current pathways of care, identify gaps and, identify and prioritise potential solutions in their rural location.

This was the second rural service delivery mapping workshop conducted by the BCI as part of the SSWBC project. A draft report will be distributed to participants shortly. A model for the delivery of multidisciplinary support services in rural and regional areas of NSW will be developed from these workshops.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 February 2007 10:01