Funding Shift Threatens Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses as Money Moves to McGrath Foundation

From July next year, federal money currently supporting Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia’s specialist nurse positions will be reassigned to the McGrath Foundation as part of an all-cancer funding strategy, totaling $46.5 million over five years. PCFA’s director of nursing Sally Sara and CEO Anne Savage argue that this move jeopardises the prostate-focused knowledge and trusted relationships that patients such as Martin Fisk consider essential to their treatment.

Special Envoy for Men’s Health Dan Repacholi says existing nurses may transition to McGrath while retaining their locations and patient connections, and that any nurse who does not move will be replaced. PCFA intends to pursue every available avenue, including parliamentary scrutiny, to safeguard its services and will continue to fund an extra 24 full-time nurse roles through fundraising. The shift reflects a broader Labor government trend of consolidating cancer-care funding under the McGrath Foundation, which now provides support for all cancer types.