Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA) provides support and resources for women affected by ovarian cancer and their families. Their vision is to save lives and ensure that no woman with ovarian cancer walks alone.
Due to the unique and significant physical and psychological challenges faced by women with ovarian cancer, support programs and resources are vital in promoting social and emotional wellbeing of affected women and their families.
In developing their new strategic plan over 2016, OCA sought to offer an updated suite of support and resources.
OCA engaged HMA to develop an Ovarian Cancer Support and Resources Plan.
The objectives of the project were to:
- Undertake an analysis of current ovarian cancer support services nationally (both within OCA and externally) and their uptake.
- Review best practice support care in ovarian (and other cancers) internationally, including evidence of the effectiveness and value of services.
- Establish national priorities in ovarian cancer support services based on stakeholder consultation, particularly with consumers.
- Identify the roles for OCA in meeting these goals.
- Identify partnerships and mechanisms to facilitate, improve and extend OCA’s support services.
HMA and OCA worked in partnership to achieve the above project objectives. The project was conducted in five stages:
- Stage 1: Project initiation – involving OCA and HMA confirming the project methodology.
- Stage 2: Situation analysis – OCA undertook a desktop audit of current resources and support available to women with ovarian cancer in Australia, and HMA undertook a scan of literature to identify best practice support services and delivery pathways.
- Stage 3: Stakeholder consultation – HMA and OCA developed and distributed surveys to consumers and experts in ovarian cancer to gather their perspectives on future priorities for support services and the role OCA should play in facilitating their delivery. HMA also conducted telephone interviews with a wide group of consumers to enhance the understanding of women’s needs.
- Stage 4: Working group – HMA and OCA facilitated a working group of key stakeholders to discuss the findings and consider the recommendations developed in previous stages.
- Stage 5: Prepare final report – HMA incorporated the project findings and working group recommendations into a final report – the Ovarian Cancer Support and Resources Plan.
The project commenced in October 2016 and was completed in June 2017.
