Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has arranged for specialist prostate cancer nurses, patients and advocates to join him in Townsville, demanding the Albanese Labor Government reverse its decision to withdraw funding from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's (PCFA) established specialist nursing service.
The Townsville media event follows growing concern about the Government's decision to end funding for PCFA's specialist nursing program from 30 June 2027, with funding redirected to the McGrath Foundation under a broader cancer nursing model.
Mr Willcox, who is Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer, said the decision had left men and their families fearing the loss of specialist nurses who had supported them through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
"I've had numerous men and their families contact my office, frightened and frustrated about what this decision means for their care and whether the nurses they have come to know and trust will still be there for them," Mr Willcox said.
"These men are already fighting cancer. They should not have to fight their own government to protect the specialist care they depend on.
"At our recent Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer event, specialist nurses travelled all the way from Townsville to Parliament House to raise their concerns.
"Yet neither the Prime Minister nor the Health Minister be bothered to attend to listen to what they had to say.
"Well, I'm proud to stand alongside these nurses and the men they care for, because their voices deserve to be heard."
Mr Willcox was joined by PCFA Director of Nursing Dr Sally Sara, who travelled from Adelaide, alongside Townsville specialist nurses and members of the local prostate cancer support group.
PCFA has warned that the Government's decision places its established specialist nursing service at risk, including Commonwealth funding supporting 96 specialist nursing positions within its national network of 131 nurses.
The organisation's specialist nurses deliver around 150,000 patient consultations annually, providing dedicated support to men and their families through complex treatment decisions, side effects, recovery and advanced disease.
In October, PCFA released findings from a voluntary workforce consultation showing 96 per cent of responding specialist nurses affected by the decision opposed the change, while one in ten reported already looking for alternative employment.
PCFA has also warned that regional and remote Australian men face a 24 per cent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with men living in metropolitan areas.
"These are highly trained nurses who understand the very personal and often devastating consequences of prostate cancer," Mr Willcox said.
"They help men navigate issues like incontinence, sexual dysfunction, mental health challenges and the uncertainty that comes with cancer treatment.
"The McGrath Foundation does fantastic work, and this is absolutely no criticism of its nurses.
"But the Government has not guaranteed these men will retain the specialist nurse who knows his medical history, understands his treatment and has earned his trust.
"Why would you put that continuity of care at risk? What possible justification is there for dismantling an established service that men and their families rely on?"
Mr Willcox said the Government's argument that funding would continue under another provider failed to address the concerns raised by PCFA, its specialist nurses and patients.
"This isn't about saving money. The Government says the funding will continue, so why take it away from an organisation that has spent more than a decade building specialist prostate cancer expertise?
"PCFA has invested years in training, clinical leadership supporting these nurses. You cannot simply transfer that experience and those relationships with the stroke of a pen.
"Almost 29,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and nearly 4,000 lose their lives to this disease.
"The Health Minister needs to listen to the people who are directly affected, reverse this decision and restore funding to PCFA's specialist nursing service.
"Men battling prostate cancer deserve compassion, certainty and continuity of care. They deserve better than this."
Dr Sally Sara
Director of Nursing, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
"This decision has caused deep distress across our nursing network and among the men and families living with prostate cancer right across Australia."
"Our specialist prostate cancer nurses have built strong relationships with local support groups. There is an immediate level of trust, with nurses referring men to support groups and support groups referring men back to their local nurse. These connections are incredibly important."
"We've spent 15 years building a specialist nursing network, supported by expert clinical leadership, professional development and education. That level of specialisation and those established relationships cannot simply be replicated overnight."
Kathy Ashley
Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Townsville University Hospital
"We are not simply standing here today protecting a workforce. We are protecting a lifeline. I worry deeply about the men who receive a prostate cancer diagnosis after June 2027. Will they have access to a knowledgeable specialist nurse, and will their families receive the same level of support?"
"What happens to the men diagnosed with prostate cancer after June 2027? Will they have access to a specialist nurse who understands their concerns, supports their families and advocates for them throughout their treatment?"
"Will the next generation of specialist prostate cancer nurses have the education, mentorship and professional support needed to maintain this expertise? These are not questions that can be answered by simply changing a funding arrangement."
"I ask the Australian Government to look beyond the funding model and listen to the men living with prostate cancer and their partners. These are questions about the future of prostate cancer care in Australia."
ENDS
Caption 1: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP with specialist prostate cancer nurses and members of the Townsville Prostate Support Group.
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
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