About Us

GICS is one of nine Integrated Cancer Services established in Victoria. It is a DHS initiative established as a cancer reform initiative out of the Governments Fighting Cancer Policy of 2003. The ICS's were established to drive and develop cancer reform with and through key stake holders, inclusive of service providers, patients and families of all age groups, across all treatment and care aspects of the cancer journey.

Victorian Government Cancer Policy 2003

The Government's Fighting Cancer Policy provides a context for the development of a wide-ranging Cancer Action Plan to address the following issues:

• Enhance prevention and screening strategies
• Upgrade and Expand Treatment Services
• Improve Coordination of the Various Types of Cancer Care
• Training and Supporting the Cancer Services Workforce

Integrated service model

This involves the establishment of:

• 3 Metropolitan and 5 Regional Integrated Cancer Services (ICS)
• The philosophy of an ICS is that hospitals and primary and community health services develop integrated care and defined referral pathways for the populations they serve.
• This will promote more effective local coordination of care for cancer patients, and a more rational, evidence-based approach to cancer service planning and delivery.

The Big Picture

• ICS – 5 (Regional)
• MICS - 3 (Metro)
• Link to PICS – 1 (Paediatric)
• Across public, private and community
• In prevention, screening, diagnosis treatment and care

Key Principals and Priority areas of Cancer Reform / Victoria

The Initiatives and Core Milestones for GICS in 2005-2006 are:

Priority Areas:

1. Multidisciplinary care
2. Care-coordination
3. Supportive Care
4. Quality Monitoring and Support

Key principles:

• An integrated approach
• Services working together
• More effective local coordination

Outcome

• Improved survival and quality of life