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PICS Pulse newsletter | ISSUE 51 | July 2026
Introduction
Welcome to the 51st issue of the PICS Pulse newsletter. Each month we provide updates on projects, upcoming events, and information relevant to our PICS members.
Next PICS Standards of Care workshop
Building on previous PICS statewide workshops, the next Standards of Care workshop will take place on Wednesday 12 August, 9:30am-1pm in Melbourne.
This session will focus on supportive care and shared care across Victoria in relation to diagnoses of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBCL). It will bring together clinicians and stakeholders to share insights, tackle supportive and shared care challenges, and agree on priority standards to guide statewide practice.
Please contact us if you would like to attend. If you have items you’d like discussed on the day, please add it to the agenda via the link below. For an update on progress against the previous workshop proposed actions, please contact kristiina.siiankoski@rch.org.au.
Monash Health recognition for embedding of PICS project to deliver chemotherapy at home
We extend our congratulations to the Monash Children’s at Home (MCAH) and Reef Children’s Cancer Centre teams, named joint winners for ‘Teams of the Year’ at the 2026 Monash Health Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
This award is some well-deserved recognition of the success and impact of the PICS-led initiative to expand the MCAH program to include low-complexity intravenous chemotherapy. The project to implement this enhancement was delivered by PICS, including developing an education program to upskill the MCAH nursing workforce and procedures for in-home chemotherapy administration.
This safe and effective alternative to treatment in-hospital has received strong endorsement from Monash families for improving care experiences, with noted reduction in patient anxiety, improved child comfort, significant time savings, and reduced disruption to daily life.
We join our Monash partners in celebrating the MCAH and Reef teams for successfully delivering and embedding the home-based IV chemotherapy model. Following a similar project at The Royal Children’s Hospital in 2021 – also driven by PICS – the fruitful implementation at Monash Health means that eligible children across the whole state can now safely receive this treatment at home.
Spotlight on PICS resources - a call to action for new resources!
Did you know that we have almost 150 resources for families and the health professionals that support them?
We’re currently reviewing our library of resources, including looking to expand our existing collection of almost 50 information sheets covering different drugs used in childhood cancer treatment.
Take our short survey below and submit your suggestions for new resources that you would like to see. These could be additional drug information sheets, a new topic addressing a knowledge gap for families, or existing out-of-state or international resources that you think should be adapted for Victorian families.
If you are unsure what already exists, search our current resource library here.
You can also tell us if you would like to offer your support and/or expertise in helping to develop any new resources – or update any existing resources as best practice continues to evolve.
Gain cancer survivorship skills with CPPiCS
The Clinical Placement Program in Cancer Survivorship (CPPiCS) helps nurses and allied health professionals build practical and increasingly important cancer survivorship skills through a free and unique professional development experience that combines self-directed online learning with an observational placement, and a workplace-based activity to improve local delivery of survivorship care.
PICS is part of CPPiCS, and we host paediatric oncology placements through the Victorian Long Term Follow-Up Program. Recent participants include regional and metro nursing staff – including CNCs – and a broad spectrum of allied health professionals from disciplines including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, education psychology, music therapy, social work, and speech pathology.
Recent workplace activities by participants have included education sessions, factsheet development, and identification of service improvement activities for Allied Health teams during the end of treatment period.
Paediatric palliative care learning day
Last month we were privileged to attend a learning day on paediatric palliative care in regional Victoria.
A collaboration between the Barwon South Western Integrated Cancer Service (BSWRICS) and the Barwon South Western Region & Grampians Region Palliative Care Consortia, the event included health professional and lived-experience speakers, sharing insights on holistic and bereavement support across Victoria.
With over 100 registrations, it brought together families, caregivers, and professionals in a supportive space to connect and learn.
We were proud to sponsor this informative event, and were deeply moved by the personal perspectives from the speakers sharing their lived experiences.
Please share this newsletter with others who may be interested in PICS news and events.
Missed a previous issue of PICS Pulse? Find them here!
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