About the WA Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care

The Western Australian Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care aims to promote research and knowledge for health care professionals working to support and provide optimum quality of life for people facing terminal and chronic illnesses, and to assist their families during and after death. 

Vision

The Western Australian Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care (WACCPC) will continue to be internationally recognised for its leadership in collaborative, multidisciplinary research and education.

Mission

The research and research training of the WACCPC will have a positive impact and influence on health outcomes, community practice and health policy.

Objectives

  • Foster a strong multidisciplinary research program in cancer, primary health, and palliative care
  • Attract competitive research funds
  • Develop and support collaborative research and clinical partnerships
  • Disseminate research findings
  • Facilitate evidence based practice. 

The Western Australian Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care (WACCPC) is a collaborative partnership between Curtin University and Edith Cowan University. Since the WACCPC moved to Curtin University in June 2006, the researchers from both sites have worked together to ensure that the centre can function effectively at both universities and create more opportunities for collaboration within Western Australia.

The research programs of WACCPC span both the cycle of life (including paediatrics, adult, and aged care) and the cycle of healthcare (including primary, acute, and palliative care). Topics focussing on the minimisation of both physical symptoms and emotional distress of patients and support of healthcare staff are a characteristic of this multidisciplinary team. Projects are initiated from clinical practice and designed to answer the question being asked by people working in the field. These research designs include in-depth qualitative research, instrument development, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, translational research and guidelines development.

The principal role of the WACCPC is to coordinate and support the research efforts of the team, and to ensure the dissemination of research findings to appropriate professionals, academics, palliative care/cancer providers and policy makers.

Research strengths of the WACCPC focus on ten key areas:

    • Aged care
    • Cancer care
    • Palliative care
    • Paediatric cancer and palliative care
    • Primary care
    • The impact of cancer, chronic and terminal illness on the family
    • Symptom assessment and management
    • Instrument development and testing
    • Psychosocial oncology
    • Care of individuals and families living with non-malignant terminal illnesses