Melissa Le Mesurier

Chair, Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee, VCCC Alliance

Committee Chair Melissa Le Mesurier has a long-held passion for medical research. She was the founding Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust (1999-2009), which has raised more than $3m for research and funded about 20 clinical fellows. In 2017, Melissa received an unexpected diagnosis of bladder cancer, and following successful treatment (thanks to early detection and participation in a clinical trial), her commitment to make a difference for other patients only grew. She became involved with the Australian and New Zealand Urological and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) and still serves on their Consumer Advisory Panel.

What does equity mean to you?

Executive support

Prof Grant McArthur AO
Executive Director, VCCC Alliance

David Rosaia
Chief Operating Officer/Deputy CEO, Bendigo Health

Cheryl Martin
Strategic Manager, LMICS

Moderator

Dr Sam Harris
Medical Oncologist, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, Regional Oncology Lead VCCC Alliance

Dr Harris graduated from Adelaide University Medical School and has extensive postgraduate general medical, oncological and palliative care experience. He completed his physician training at the Austin Health Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne.

In 2013, he completed medical oncology advanced training at Bendigo Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Austin Repatriation Hospital. His final year was a clinical trials fellowship in breast cancer, gastro-intestinal tumours and genitourinary cancers. His specialty areas are in breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and general oncology. 

Between 2014 and 2016, Dr Harris undertook a fellowship at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, United Kingdom, working initially in the Sarcoma Unit and subsequently with Prof Johann De Bono in the Drug Development Unit (phase 1 trials) and the prostate team. During this time, he worked on the early phase trials of multiple drugs entering or soon to be entering or soon to be entering clinical practice across many areas of oncology, including lung, breast, prostate, ovarian cancer and melanoma, as well as immunotherapy.

Dr Harris is a currently a medical oncologist at the Bendigo Health Cancer Centre and also has a fortnightly visiting clinic to Kyneton Regional Health. He is the Clinical Lead for the Oncology Trials Unit. He is the Bendigo Health representative and a previous chairperson for the Regional Trials Network – Victoria. 
 
Specialities: Breast, Melanoma, and Lung

Tanya Smith and Melissa Loorham

Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre

Tanya Smith
Consumer Representative
Tanya Smith is a past patient of the Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre. Since finishing treatment, she has been involved as a consumer representative with LMICS and the Cancer Centre for about five years. She is passionate about making sure patients and carers have meaningful input into improving cancer services, especially in regional Victoria. She aims to encourage clinicians and others to consider the whole patient – not just their physical health, but their mental and emotional health as they go through the cancer experience.

Melissa Loorham
Development Manager, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, Bendigo Health
Melissa Loorham is the Development Manager at Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre. She led the creation of the Regional Cancer Services Plan 2023-2028 and oversees the five-year implementation. Melissa has 25 years’ experience in the oncology in nursing roles, project management and as an influential change agent. She holds a Master of Cancer Sciences and is passionate about making a difference in rural and regional health services towards closing the gap on health inequities.

Bwe Ku Say and Lisa Carson

Bendigo Community Health Service, LMICS and Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre

Bwe Ku Say
Refugee and Cultural Diversity Project Worker, Bendigo Community Health Services
Interpreter, Bendigo Health
Bwe Ku Say is a Project Worker within the Refugee and Cultural Diversity Team at Bendigo Community Health Services where he works with the Karen community to build knowledge and confidence in a range of health topics, and support access to local services. He is currently working within the Refugee Cancer Project supporting community education sessions, resource development, and navigation support for patients with a cancer diagnosis. Bwe is also a much-loved member of the Bendigo Health interpreting team, where he works with patients across the hospital system.

Lisa Carson
Refugee Cancer Services Project Facilitator, Bendigo Community Health Services
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Bendigo Health
McGrath Breast Cancer Nurse Consultant
Lisa Carson has worked as a clinical nurse in cancer services for 13 years, with roles spanning radiotherapy, chemotherapy and breast cancer nursing. She has joined the Refugee and Cultural Diversity team at Bendigo Community Health Services this year to be involved with the Refugee Cancer Project. She brings her clinical knowledge, understanding of services, and experience with patient trajectories to this role, helping to bridge the gap between communities of refugee background and cancer services.

Kristy Puls and Gilbert Wanganeen
Echuca Regional Health, VACCHO

Gilbert Wanganeen
Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer, Echuca Regional Health
Gilbert Wanganeen is a proud Nharungga and Kokatha man, born in Wallaroo, South Australia. He moved to Echuca in 1985 and married Lee Atkinson, a Yorta Yorta woman. Together, they raised four children and have ten grandchildren. Gilbert currently works as an Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer - Emotional Wellbeing Worker at Echuca Regional Health, supporting staff and patients with cultural awareness and safety for our people whilst the are engaging with the health service. A passionate community member, he has served as a Social Emotional Wellbeing Worker for over 12 years. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, supporting his grandchildren’s sports, and reflecting on his life in Echuca.

Kristy Puls
Health Promotion Officer, Echuca Regional Health
Kristy Puls is a Health Promotion Officer in the Population Health team at Echuca Regional Health. Kristy has a nursing background now with a strong focus on prevention and health promotion. She has had the privilege of supporting various co-design projects, including Aboriginal Cultural Safety and Vaping initiatives with young people in Campaspe. Recently, Kristy has contributed to the, Wanyarra Mulana, One’s Personal Journey in collaboration with VACCHO, working closely with the local community to create a resource by Mob, for Mob. The work reflects a commitment to culturally responsive, community-driven health promotion that empowers individuals, promotes better health outcomes and drives self-determination

Developing practical, sustainable approaches for inclusive practice

Moderator

Dr Sam Harris, Medical Oncologist, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, Regional Oncology Lead VCCC Alliance

Panellists:

Tanya Smith and Melissa Loorham, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre

Bwe Ku Say and Lisa Carson, Bendigo Community Health Service, LMICS and Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre

Kristy Puls and Gilbert Wanganeen, Echuca Regional Health, VACCHO

Groups to discuss practical steps to enhance equity and inclusion in
their daily practices.

Questions to promote discussion:

1. What is one thing you have seen or would like to see in your daily practice to promote equity through consumer partnerships?

2. What other actions can we each take? Think from consumer and staff (organisation) perspectives. What helps build effective relationships over time?

Melissa Le Mesurier

Chair, Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee, VCCC Alliance