Melanoma Matters - A Comprehensive Approach to Skin Cancer in Gippsland

Melanoma is a significant public health concern in Gippsland, where melanoma incidence is high and 79% of surgical procedures occur outside the region.

In response, the Melanoma project takes a comprehensive approach to improving prevention, early diagnosis, and local care access.

Informed by the VICS-led Optimal Care Summit, the project focuses on increasing melanoma awareness through community education and general practitioner training. It aims to build a sustainable, informed local health workforce capable of identifying and managing skin lesions earlier.

Key to this model is the integration of specialised roles, including a Melanoma Nurse Coordinator and Melanoma Surgical Liaisons. These roles serve as central contacts between primary care and tertiary services, helping to streamline referral pathways and enable timely, local surgical intervention.

By embedding these roles and strengthening connections across the system, the project is expected to reduce out-of-region treatment, enhance care coordination, and improve health outcomes. This model seeks to empower both clinicians and patients, promoting proactive skin health and making high-quality melanoma care more accessible in Gippsland.