The Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) is our regional multidisciplinary professional paediatric oncology society and includes all SIOP Oceania members. ANZCHOG has a diverse and multifaceted role within the region. As our principal professional organisation, ANZCHOG acts to coordinate sponsors for clinical trials and has close working relationships with the COG and several European clinical trials groups. ANZCHOG also organises our regional annual scientific meeting, supports professional development and training of paediatric oncologists and nurses and supports research activities. Within our region, all our Australian and New Zealand children’s cancer centres are members of the Children’s Oncology Group and many centres participate in European based clinical trials. However, like other high-income countries, we face the challenges with ensuring access to the new and emerging therapeutics.

Many SIOP members in our region are active in practical and professional outreach, including programs enhancing indigenous access to health care, and telemedicine to remote and rural regions in Australia and New Zealand ensuring equity of access to major paediatric hospitals for children with suspected cancer, regardless of distance or location. However, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand that are high income countries with state funded comprehensive cancer care in all regions, most children in Oceania live in low and middle income countries with limited or modest resources. Oceania is a sparsely populated region with many Pacific Island States and Territories. As the health and healthcare of children in these countries improves, cancer is emerging as a significant health problem. Many SIOP members are involved in supporting colleagues across our region. Children with cancer from New Caledonia and surrounding areas are transferred to Sydney for comprehensive care funded by an insurance program supported by the French government. The New Zealand-Pacific Islands Program has well established twinning relationships with Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. New initiatives have recently commenced in Papua New Guinea and East Timor, although there are ongoing issues with the practical issues with access and supply of chemotherapy and treatment support. A regional childhood cancer training workshop for medical and nursing staff from around Oceania is being planned for 2016 as part of the Pacific Medical Association meeting.

The theme of the 2015 ASM held in Fremantle in mid June was ‘Difficult Diseases, Difficult Situations’, exploring the challenges of providing high quality care and meeting expectations of patients and families. Invited international faculty included Dr Amar Gajjar (USA), Professor Brenda Gibson (UK), Dr Eugene Hwang (USA), Mr Lee Jeys (UK), Dr Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo (USA), Dr Robert Wechsler-Reya (USA), Dr Kristina hardy (USA) and Professor Tannishtha Reya (USA). More than 250 delegates attended and were privileged to enjoy a divers program from a distinguished faculty.

ANZCHOG 2016 ASM 23 – 25 June 2016, Cairns (Australia)

SIOP OCEANIA Report September 2015