A major regional initiative is bringing together general practices, health services, researchers and consumers to improve skin cancer care across the Loddon Mallee, with local clinics now invited to join the program.
RISE4SkinCancer is a five-year, Medical Research Future Fund-funded consortium led by La Trobe University’s Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research. The program aims to help people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
The initiative responds to the significant burden of skin cancer across regional communities. Melanoma incidence in the Loddon Mallee is 83 cases per 100,000 people annually, compared with 51 per 100,000 across Victoria. The region also recorded 5,998 skin cancer-related hospital admissions in 2024, while more than 40 per cent of local patients leave the region for treatment.
Rather than creating parallel services, RISE4SkinCancer aims to strengthen the system around general practice through education, improved referral pathways, locally relevant patient information and stronger connections between primary, specialist and hospital care.
Surgeon Alex Cameron said timely diagnosis, coordinated pathways and access to specialist treatment were critical to improving patient care.
“We know that timely diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference to outcomes for people with skin cancer. Too many patients across the Loddon Mallee currently travel long distances to access specialist care.
“By strengthening referral pathways, supporting general practice and improving coordination across the health system, we have an opportunity to help more people receive high-quality care closer to home.”
General practice teams are central to the program, reflecting the important role local clinics play in detecting, managing and referring people with suspected or confirmed skin cancer.
Professor Leigh Kinsman, Lead Investigator for RISE4SkinCancer, La Trobe University said the program would support practices with different levels of skin cancer experience.
“General practices are often the first point of contact for patients with skin concerns, so we play a critical role in early detection and ongoing management.
“RISE4SkinCancer is about supporting practices of all sizes and levels of expertise to deliver the best possible care, while making it easier for patients to access the right services when they need them.”
Recruiting now for 2027
The consortium brings together general practices, hospitals, cancer services, Aboriginal organisations, consumers and researchers from across the region. It will support a whole-of-practice approach involving GPs, registrars, nurses, locums and practice managers.
General practices are now being recruited to participate, with 15 practices already signed on. The immediate goal is to recruit at least 30 practices before program impact is assessed, with capacity for up to 60 practices.
Practices can take part as either Design Partners or Data Partners.
Design Partners will help shape and test improvements, access education and resources, and contribute evaluation data. Participating practices may receive payments of up to $6,000. Data Partners will contribute de-identified data and patient-survey opportunities to help measure regional care and change, with participation payments of up to $3,000.
Practices do not need established skin cancer expertise to contribute. Clinics seeking to build capability, practices with extensive experience and time-poor practices can all play a role in developing a more connected regional system.
The program will also explore innovations including GP-to-GP pathways and AI-assisted referral preparation, alongside improvements to referral quality, patient information and culturally safe models of care led by Aboriginal organisations.
Expressions of interest for general practices close on 30 November 2026. Practices can contact the project team via email at RISE4SkinCancer@latrobe.edu.au.
