Prevention and early detection
Key priority area
Improve identification of people at high risk of pancreatic cancer for targeted surveillance
Strategy
Integrate a pancreatic cancer risk assessment tool
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test a pancreatic cancer specific risk assessment tool
Identify current evidence for pancreatic cancer risk assessment and existing risk assessment tool(s)
Medium term
Implement pancreatic cancer specific risk assessment tool in primary care
Strategy
Establish a pancreatic cancer targeted surveillance program
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test existing approaches to targeted surveillance
Medium term
Implement a targeted surveillance program
Presentation, initial investigations and referral
Key priority area
Improve primary health professional recognition of signs and symptoms for pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Promote primary health professional awareness of signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Promotion and communication of signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer through existing channels
Strategy
Educate primary health professionals on the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement educational modules on signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Integrate a decision support tool for assessment of signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer into primary care
Activities
Short term
Identify existing decision support tools for assessment of signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Design or adapt and test a pancreatic cancer decision support tools
Medium term
Implement pancreatic cancer decision support tools
Key priority area
Improve general practitioner understanding of appropriate initial investigations if pancreatic cancer is suspected
Strategy
Establish a standardised clinical pathway for initial investigations
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test standardised clinical pathway for initial investigations (and diagnostics) and referrals for suspected pancreatic cancer based on OCP guidance
Medium term
Implement standardised clinical pathway for initial investigations (and diagnostics) and referrals
Strategy
Educate GPs on appropriate initial investigation
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement educational modules on appropriate initial investigations
Key priority area
Improve the timeliness of referrals to an appropriate specialist if pancreatic cancer is suspected
Strategy
Establish systems of rapid and seamless specialist referral
Activities
Short term
Identify barriers and enablers to timely referrals into specialist care
Develop and test approaches to rapid referral
Medium term
Implement systems of rapid and seamless referral into specialist care
Diagnosis, staging and treatment planning
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to appropriate diagnostic and staging modalities for pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish referral pathways to appropriate diagnostic and staging investigations
Activities
Short term
Identify barriers and enablers for diagnostic and staging investigations for pancreatic cancer
Develop a framework for use of teleradiology/ telehealth
Medium term
Develop referral pathways for diagnostic and staging investigations
Long term
Implement referral pathways for diagnostic and staging investigations
Strategy
Educate health professionals on appropriate diagnostic and staging investigations
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement educational modules for appropriate diagnostic and staging investigations for pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Improve access to specialist multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) for treatment planning for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Promote clinician awareness of OCP for prompt referral to MDM
Activities
Short term
Promotion and communication of OCP through existing channels
Strategy
Establish directories of specialists in pancreatic cancer management linked to an MDT
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement directories of specialists linked to an MDT
Strategy
Establish reporting of clinical quality indicators to measure access to MDM
Activities
Long term
Implement reporting of clinical quality indicators to measure access to specialist MDMs
Treatment
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to high-volume, specialist pancreatic cancer treatment centres
Strategy
Establish parameters for high-volume pancreatic cancer treatment centres
Activities
Short term
Establish working definition of ‘high-volume centre’ in order to map and categorise existing centres
Create a registry of treatment centres that are considered high-volume/specialised in pancreatic cancer treatment across each state and region
Medium term
Develop national standards of clinical capability for high-volume, specialist centres in pancreatic cancer
Develop a nationally agreed minimum dataset and framework for data collection, collation and reporting on clinical quality indicators and national benchmarking
Long term
Implement standardised data collection within high-volume specialist pancreatic cancer treatment centres
Strategy
Establish hybrid models of treatment/care delivery
Activities
Short term
Identify existing technologies (i.e. telehealth) which may be leveraged to facilitate equitable access to high-volume specialist pancreatic cancer treatment centres
Medium term
Design hybrid models of treatment/care delivery linking high-volume, specialist pancreatic cancer treatment centres and regional cancer services
Long term
Implement hybrid models of care through strengthening linkages with high-volume specialist pancreatic cancer treatment centres and lower volume centres including regional cancer services
Key priority area
Strengthen clinical guidance to reduce unwarranted variations in treatments for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish strategies to address unwarranted variations in treatments
Activities
Short term
Identify unwarranted variations in treatments including gaps in clinical practice
Medium term
Develop and test strategies to address variations in treatment
Long term
Implement strategies to address unwarranted variations in treatment
Strategy
Update clinical guidance to address gaps
Activities
Short term
Identify gaps in clinical guidance
Medium term
Develop or adapt new clinical guidance to address gaps
Long term
Implement strategies to address unwarranted variations in treatment
Strategy
Promote patient and clinician awareness of existing clinical guidance
Activities
Long term
Promote awareness of existing best practice pancreatic cancer treatment guidance
Key priority area
Improve access to neoadjuvant therapy, including through clinical trials, in pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish routine access to neoadjuvant therapy
Activities
Short term
Promote awareness of the benefits of chemotherapy treatment options, including neoadjuvant therapy
Medium term
Design and implement standardised approaches for access to neoadjuvant therapy including through clinical trials, leveraging technology and innovation
Care after initial treatment and recovery
Key priority area
Improve coordination between specialised pancreatic cancer treatment centres and primary care in managing patients with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish strategies for coordination of shared-care between specialists and primary care
Activities
Short term
Identify barriers and enablers to coordination of shared-care between specialists and primary care
Identify existing electronic cancer care plans for information sharing between specialists and primary care
Medium term
Develop and test strategies to address identified barriers to coordination of shared-care between specialists and primary care
Implement strategies for coordination of shared-care between specialists and primary care in alignment with Primary Health Cancer 10 Year Plan
Managing recurrent, residual or metastatic disease
Key priority area
Strengthen early referral to palliative care for people with advanced pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish standardised palliative care pathway
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to palliative care support
Design or adapt and test standardised palliative care pathway, incorporating rapid access models to palliative care
Medium term
Implement standardised palliative care pathway in alignment with the National Palliative Care Strategy
Strategy
Promote patient and carer awareness of local support services
Activities
Short term
Develop accessible information for patients, carers, families and communities on local support services
Key priority area
Increase access and timely referral to specialist multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) with palliative care representation for people with metastatic pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Promote clinician awareness of OCP and importance of prompt referral to a MDT
Activities
Short term
Promotion and communication of OCP through existing channels
Strategy
Establish directories of specialists linked to a MDT with palliative care representation
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement directories of specialists linked to an MDT with palliative care representation
Strategy
Establish reporting of clinical quality indicators to measure timely referral to MDM
Activities
Long term
Implement reporting of clinical quality indicators that measure timely referral of people with metastatic pancreatic cancer to specialist MDMs with palliative care representation
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to community-based palliative care services for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Promote patient and clinician awareness of community-based palliative care support services
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to community-based palliative care support and services
Medium term
Develop and implement a culturally appropriate, consumer-accessible guide(s) on community-based palliative care services
Key priority area
Provide systems and services that support rapid access to palliative care when needed for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish standardised care pathway for rapid access to palliative care
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to palliative care support
Design or adapt and test standardised care pathway incorporating rapid access models to palliative care
Medium term
Implement standardised care pathway in alignment with the National Palliative Care Strategy
End-of-life care
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to specialist expertise in early intervention pain management for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish standardised pathway for access to pain management
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to early intervention pain management
Design or adapt and test standardised supportive care pathway incorporating rapid access models to pain management expertise
Medium term
Implement standardised supportive care pathway
Strategy
Promote patient and clinician awareness of interventional pain management
Activities
Short term
Promote awareness of interventional pain management
Strategy
Educate health professionals on interventional pain management
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement educational modules on interventional pain management in pancreatic cancer
Supportive care
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to coordinated supportive care for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish standardised pathway for coordinated supportive care
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to coordinated supportive care
Design or adapt and test standardised supportive care pathway, incorporating rapid access models, for access to supportive care
Medium term
Strengthen linkages between primary health professionals and specialist multidisciplinary teams
Implement standardised supportive care pathway
Strategy
Promote patient and clinician awareness of supportive care services
Activities
Short term
Promote awareness of pancreatic-specific supportive care services
Strategy
Educate health professionals on best-practice supportive care
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement educational modules on best-practice supportive care for pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Improve equity of access to specialist supportive care for pancreatic cancer, including psychosocial support services and networks
Strategy
Establish standardised supportive care pathway for equitable access to specialist supportive care
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to psychosocial support services
Design or adapt and test standardised supportive care pathway, incorporating rapid access models to psychosocial support
Medium term
Strengthen linkages between primary health professionals and specialist multidisciplinary teams in alignment with the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan
Implement standardised supportive care pathway
Key priority area
Improve patient navigation and care coordination at point of diagnosis for patient support
Strategy
Establish models of care coordination
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test existing models of cancer care coordination, including virtual care models
Medium term
Implement models of care coordination from the point of diagnosis
Strategy
Integrate a needs assessment tool for symptom management support
Activities
Short term
Identify existing needs assessment tools for symptom management
Design or adapt and test a needs assessment tool for symptom management
Medium term
Implement needs assessment tool for symptom management support
Key priority area
Improve access to symptom management support for people with pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish standardised pathway and needs assessment tool for symptom management support
Activities
Short term
Identify current status and gaps in access to symptom management support
Design or adapt and test standardised pathway incorporating rapid access models for symptom management support
Medium term
Implement standardised pathway for symptom management support
Research and clinical trials
Key priority area
Strengthen the evidence-base regarding early detection methods for pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish a national pancreatic cancer research strategy
Activities
Short term
Design a national pancreatic cancer research strategy to incentivise a coordinated approach, including early detection methods for pancreatic cancer
Medium term
Implement mechanisms within the pancreatic cancer research strategy that encourage research in early detection methods for pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Increase Australia's engagement in collaborative multidisciplinary research both nationally and internationally
Strategy
Form a National Pancreatic Cancer Network
Activities
Short term
Formation of a National Pancreatic Cancer Network to strengthen national and international collaboration across pancreatic cancer research groups and between academia/research, government, industry and philanthropic sectors
Strategy
Establish a program of research excellence in pancreatic cancer
Activities
Medium term
Establish a national/ international peer reviewed program of research excellence in pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Improve the use of biospecimens for research in pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Establish a national pancreatic biospecimen registry
Activities
Short term
Design a national pancreatic biospecimen registry including governance structure, infrastructure, quality standards and linkage with the national clinical data registry as part of the national research strategy
Medium term
Establish a national pancreatic biospecimen registry with linkage to the national clinical data registry
Key priority area
Strengthen the evidence-base regarding potential personalised and tailored drug treatments
Strategy
Facilitate research and clinical trials in personalised and tailored drug treatments for pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Design research and clinical trials in personalised and tailored drug treatments for pancreatic cancer as part of the National Pancreatic Cancer Network and national research strategy
Medium term
Implement research and clinical trials in personalised and tailored drug treatments for pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Strengthen the evidence-base regarding repurposing of existing therapies for more effective treatments in pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Facilitate research and clinical trials in repurposing of existing therapies for pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Design research and clinical trials in repurposing of existing therapies for pancreatic cancer as part of the National Pancreatic Cancer Network and national research strategy
Medium term
Implement research and clinical trials in repurposing of existing therapies for more effective treatments in pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Improve access to clinical trials in pancreatic cancer, including for people with metastatic disease
Strategy
Promote participation in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Promote patient and clinician awareness on the benefits of participation in clinical trials for, people with metastatic disease
Identify barriers to patient participation in a clinical trial
Medium term
Design and implement standardised approach for routine access to clinical trials, leveraging technology and innovation
Key priority area
Improve access to surgical clinical trials in pancreatic cancer
Strategy
Promote participation in surgical clinical trials for pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Promote patient and clinician awareness on the benefits of patient participation in surgical clinical trials
Identify barriers to patient participation in surgical clinical trials
Medium term
Design and implement standardised approach for routine access to surgery and treatment clinical trials, leveraging technology and innovation
Data and reporting
Key priority area
Strengthen national data spanning the optimal care pathway to assess variations in best practice pancreatic cancer care
Strategy
Establish national reporting on clinical quality indicators
Activities
Short term
Develop a nationally agreed minimum dataset for reporting of clinical quality indicators and national benchmarking
Establish/ enhance a national clinical data registry spanning the optimal care pathway
Medium term
Design the approach to increase the scope of and access to existing clinical data
Long term
Implement nationally agreed minimum dataset for reporting on clinical quality indicators and national benchmarking
Key priority area
Improve the collection of patient reported experience and outcome measures in routine pancreatic cancer care
Strategy
Establish national reporting on standardised PREMS and PROMS
Activities
Short term
Identify existing approaches to collection of patient-reported experience and outcome measures (PREMs and PROMs) in pancreatic cancer care
Develop or adapt and test nationally standardised PREMS and PROMS for inclusion in the agreed minimum dataset for reporting of clinical quality indicators and national benchmarking
Medium term
Implement national standardised PREMS and PROMS for reporting on patient outcomes across the pancreatic cancer care pathway
Models of care
Key priority area
Improve the provision of culturally appropriate models of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from CALD backgrounds affected by pancreatic cancer and their carers
Strategy
Establish culturally appropriate care models
Activities
Short term
Codesign or adapt and test models of culturally appropriate care
Medium term
Implement models of culturally appropriate care
Strengthen inclusion of cultural experts on specialist MDTs aligned to the OCPs
Strategy
Promote patient and clinician awareness on pancreatic cancer treatment and care
Activities
Short term
Promote awareness of the Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer (OCPs)
Develop and implement in-language resources for patients, carers, families and communities, on pancreatic cancer treatment and care
Key priority area
Improve integrated care coordination models, including telehealth, for people from regional and remote areas to minimise delayed treatment
Strategy
Establish integrated care coordination models
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test existing models of care coordination, including virtual care models, for people from regional and remote areas
Medium term
Implement integrated care coordination models, including virtual care for people from regional and remote areas
Strategy
Educate health professionals about models of care coordination
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement education modules on care coordination in pancreatic cancer
Key priority area
Improve evidence-based care coordination models for people affected by metastatic pancreatic cancer, including those living in regional and remote areas
Strategy
Establish care coordination models for people with metastatic pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Design or adapt and test existing models of care coordination for metastatic disease, including virtual care
Medium term
Implement evidence-based care coordination models for metastatic disease, including virtual care
Strategy
Educate health professionals about models of care coordination for people with metastatic pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement education modules on care coordination for metastatic disease
Key priority area
Improve the capacity and capability of the workforce in rural and remote areas to support pancreatic cancer care
Strategy
Educate health professionals on best-practice care in rural and remote areas
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement education modules on follow-up and supportive care in rural and remote areas
Strategy
Establish linkages between primary health professionals and specialists
Activities
Medium term
Leverage technology to build virtual capacity of workforce in rural and remote areas
Strengthen linkages between primary health professionals and specialist multidisciplinary teams in alignment with the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
Long term
Implement recruitment and retention initiatives in alignment with the National Medical Workforce Strategy, National Nursing Strategy, Nurse Practitioner 10 Year Plan, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework
Key priority area
Improve capacity and capability of palliative care nurses and GPs in the provision of pancreatic cancer care particularly in regional areas
Strategy
Promote health professional awareness of palliative care tools and resources for pancreatic cancer
Activities
Short term
Promote awareness of existing tools and resources in palliative care
Strategy
Educate health professionals on best-practice care
Activities
Short term
Develop and implement education modules on best-practice care with an emphasis on regional and remote settings
Strategy
Establish linkages between primary health professionals and palliative care specialists
Activities
Medium term
Leverage technology to build virtual capacity of workforce in regional and remote areas
Strengthen linkages between primary health professionals and specialist multidisciplinary teams in alignment with the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan
Long term
Implement recruitment and retention initiatives in alignment with the National Medical Workforce Strategy, National Nursing Strategy, Nurse Practitioner 10 Year Plan, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework