Hunter Medical Research Institute Cardio-Oncology

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Regional Transport)—I was honoured to recently attend and speak at the Hunter Medical Research Institute's inaugural Cardio-Oncology Q&A session in partnership with the Hunter Cancer Hub. The groups inspiring leaders Dr Aaron Sverdlov and Dr Doan Ngo, Co-Directors of the Newcastle Centre of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology, are pioneers in the integration of heart and cancer care. Despite significant medical advances, heart disease and cancer remain the two greatest causes of death and disability in Australia and the Western world. People living with and beyond cancer bear a disproportionate burden of heart disease, making prevention critical for everyone, especially those with a cancer history. It is essential to maintain heart health during cancer treatment and throughout survivorship to secure long-term quality of life. Yet regional and rural communities face poorer outcomes due to limited access to specialist services and the absence of dedicated cancer survivorship programs outside metropolitan Sydney. I am proud that the Newcastle Centre of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology is the first internationally accredited programme in the Southern Hemisphere. With initiatives in Newcastle and expansions into Maitland and Tamworth, we are forging a path toward holistic, accessible care for all Australians.