The work of McGrath Foundation Breast Care nurses is renowned for supporting Australians touched by breast cancer.

It is therefore extremely pleasing to be part of a Coalition Government which has provided $20 million over four years in new funding for McGrath Breast Care nurses to ensure ongoing support for people being treated for breast cancer.

Over 80 per cent of the Commonwealth funded Breast Care nurses are employed in rural and regional Australia and in my electorate of Parkes there is a federally funded nurse based in Moree. There are also two nurses in Dubbo and one in Broken Hill who are funded by the McGrath Foundation.

Since 2013, Commonwealth-funded McGrath Breast Care nurses have supported around 15,000 Australians and their families.

The Government’s commitment of $20.5 million over four years from 2017-18 will fund up to 57 of the McGrath Foundation’s nurse positions in approximately 55 locations across the country.

McGrath Breast Care Nurses provide physical, psychological and emotional support to people diagnosed with breast cancer, their families and carers – starting from diagnosis and continuing throughout their treatment.

The role these nurses play in a patient’s treatment journey involves them acting as the main liaison between the patients and the specialists who coordinate their treatment.

This new four-year extension to the Government’s previous funding agreement with the McGrath Foundation of $18.5 million will ensure this valuable support and co-ordination of care continues for patients with breast cancer.

The funding announcement for McGrath Breast Care nurses are in addition to the Coalition Government’s July 2015 listing of Pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) medications for secondary breast cancer: pertuzumab (Perjeta), trastuzumab (Herceptin) and trastuzumub emtansine (Kadcyla) for HER2- positive metastatic breast cancer. With Government subsidy these medicines would cost consumers more than $82,700 per person each year to access.

In October 2016 the Government also listed Tamoxifen (Nolvadex-D) on the PBS as a treatment to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women identified with a moderate to high lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

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Community organisations in the Parkes electorate can now apply for a grant of up to $5000 to assist the work of their volunteers.

The funding is being provided under a $10 million Volunteer Grant funding round.

This funding is a key part of the Australian Government’s support for volunteers who give their time and energy to help build stronger, more cohesive communities.
This is a great opportunity for community organisations in the Parkes electorate to apply for a grant of between $1000 and $5000 to support the important work of their volunteers.

These grants can be used by organisations for anything that helps with costs incurred by their volunteers, such as first aid training, background security checks or transport for volunteers who may have a disability.

Community organisations can also purchase much-needed equipment, such as iPads or printers, so they can keep pace with technology.

This funding is part of the Commonwealth Government’s $28 million over 2016-17 for the Strengthening Communities programme that supports the capacity of communities to address local issues.

Funding priority will be given to organisations working in disadvantaged communities or those affected by natural disasters.

Regional and Indigenous organisations are encouraged to apply.

Applications for Volunteer Grants close 20 December 2016. For further information go to dss.gov.au/grants.

Alternatively, contact the Volunteer Grants 2016 Hotline on freecall 1800 020 283 or email grants@dss.gov.au.