CANCER COUNCIL NSW AIMS TO BEAT CANCER @ WORK

Thursday, 1 March, 2018

Information is power, they say. When it comes to fighting cancer, the Cancer Council’s Glen Parsons says information provides the power to detect the disease early and save lives.

Glen, Cancer Council NSW’s Community Programs Coordinator, was speaking at the official launch of the Beat Cancer @ Work program’s expansion into the Upper Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, and Central West.

The expansion of the free program was made possible through a $33,000 grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation to purchase a vehicle dedicated to delivering the program throughout regional NSW.

"The information we deliver through Beat Cancer @ Work is potentially life-saving as there are many thousands of Australians diagnosed with some form of cancer every year," Glen said. “The impact on the person, families, carers, and communities is significant; so providing workplace education simply makes great sense."

"This grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation means we’re no longer restricted to delivering the program to the Lower Hunter. We can now share the Beat Cancer @ Work message to communities and speak to workers about the importance of cancer prevention."

Operating as a pilot program for the past 12 months in the Lower Hunter, Beat Cancer @ Work delivers 15-minute talks, as well as education resources to business, community groups, and service clubs to help educate organisations, managers, and workers on how to reduce the risk of cancer. 

To date, 55 businesses and 5,000 workers in the Hunter and Central Coast regions have participated in the program. This is expected to significantly increase as the program continues to roll out through the regions with the dedicated vehicle.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Chair Phil Neat said the program was virtually unique because it delivered vital cancer prevention information to employees in their workplace.

"What was really appealing about this program was its special ability to engage with both employers and employees," he said.

"This is an important program. When a cancer diagnosis is provided, it can sometimes be an information overload for everyone involved. The Charitable Foundation Board is delighted that this grant enables more workers to participate in the program."

The Beat Cancer @ Work program provides workers and their workplaces with guidance and information for when they find themselves in the situation of being diagnosed, or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. 

This program can offer information about the Cancer Council’s free transport-to-treatment services, home help services and legal and financial assistance programs. 

The Beat Cancer @ Work talks cover three main areas:

• Inform: information on cancer and the work of Cancer Council NSW
• Prevent: a prevention cancer message is delivered about any type of cancer (skin cancer and melanoma are the most popular talks delivered)
• Support: an overview of what supportive care measures Cancer Council has to assist and support cancer patients and their families and carers.