Background: Recognition is growing that young people have specific needs related to a diagnosis of cancer. They face worse medical outcomes and often experience enduring physical and psychosocial impacts. ONTrac at Peter Mac Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Service supports young people with cancer and their families through direct clinical care, education/training, secondary consultation and research. The Victorian and Tasmanian Youth Cancer Advisory Board (YCAB) was established in 2010 with support from the Victorian Department of Health as a mechanism for ensuring empowering and meaningful youth consumer engagement in the development of services responsive to patient need.
Aims: YCAB operates with the vision of improving cancer services for AYA patients and their families across Victoria and Tasmania.
Method: The establishment and operation of YCAB is evidence and experience based. Membership for 2013 comprises 12 individuals who have experienced cancer between 15-25 as patients and siblings. They represent multiple regional and metropolitan ICS and meet bi-monthly. Evaluation of each term of the Board is completed annually.
Results: To date YCAB have demonstrated several significant achievements including the development of AYA inpatient/outpatient space; the delivery of education/training;consultation for the VCCC; advocacy for changes to fertility rebates and guidelines for AYAs and the development of a survivorship agenda within ONTrac at Peter Mac.For this work, YCAB received the 2011 Victorian Public Healthcare award for responsive governance. They also received funding in 2013 for the continuation of their work.
Discussion: If accepted, this oral will be jointly presented by a YCAB member and the author. It will discuss: the importance of youth consumer engagement in cancer care; YCAB objectives; outcomes to date; goals for the future and how the Board can best continue to work within and across the ICS for the benefit of all AYA patients and their families.