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PICS Pulse newsletter | ISSUE 46 | Feb 2026
Introduction
Welcome to the 46th issue of the PICS Pulse newsletter. Each month we provide updates on projects, upcoming events, and information relevant to our PICS members.
Register for the PICS Annual Forum
Join us at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre on Thursday 26 February 2026, for a special PICS annual forum. Arrival from 4:30pm for a 5pm start. Refreshments will be provided.
The highlight of this year’s forum will be the launch of the Victorian Childhood Cancer Outcomes Registry (VCCOR). Ahead of the formal launch we have just published the VCCOR data dictionary. This central reference document supports understanding of the data that is included in the registry, and provides guidance for data validation and analytic use.
This forum is in-person only, so register now to save your spot!
Contact us at pics.admin@rch.org.au for any queries.
New best practice guidance for procedural support in paediatric radiation therapy
In a Victorian first, we have published new guidance to facilitate procedural support in paediatric radiation therapy.
Building on the recently updated Radiation therapy Service Capability Framework for children and adolescents, this document presents best practice approaches for child and family-centred procedural assessment, individualised preparation, and active support and coaching.
It includes specific considerations for patients undergoing radiation therapy, supporting equitable access to standardised care. The guidance also includes a directory of staff education resources to enhance capability and build confidence in providing paediatric procedural support.
Regional cancer care family survey
Do you live in regional Victoria? Have you or your child been treated for childhood cancer? If so, we would love to hear from you in our new survey.
We want to learn about your family's experiences of childhood cancer care in regional areas, including about any care you received closer to home. Your feedback will help us understand what works well and where improvements are needed, so we can better support children, young people, and families in the future.
Join the AUS-POND Consumer Advisory Group
The new AUS-POND (Australian Pharmacogenetic Paediatric Oncology Network for Drug Safety) program is seeking people to join their Consumer Advisory Group (CAG).
Led by MCRI, AUS-POND aims to better understand how a person's genes affect the way medicines work for them, to improve drug effectiveness while reducing side-effects for children and adolescents.
They are looking for parents or carers of children treated for cancer in Australia, and young people or adults who were treated for cancer before the age of 18. CAG members will use their lived experiences to provide valuable feedback on ideas, materials, and priorities, helping to improve care in ways that truly matter.
No scientific background or knowledge of pharmacogenomics is needed.
Appointment of Rachel Conyers as RCH CCC Director
Please join us in welcoming Professor Rachel Conyers as the new Director of the Children’s Cancer Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Since joining The RCH as a Consultant Paediatric Oncologist more than 10 years ago, Prof Conyers has become an internationally recognised leader in pharmacogenomics and for her work reducing toxicities in childhood cancer treatment.
In her new role Prof Conyers will join the PICS Governance & Executive Committee to support PICS in delivering service improvements in children's cancer services across the state.
She replaces Professor David Eisenstat, who has stepped down from the role after 5 years as he commences his new role as the Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Chair in Childhood Cancer at The University of Melbourne.
Spotlight on community supports - Youth-friendly health services directory
The Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Service have launched a new directory of youth-friendly health services.
The directory collates a growing list of primary care (GP, nursing) and community-based mental health services across metropolitan and greater Melbourne that can support young people aged 15-25 years. Services have been identified as youth-friendly based on their specified age range, ability to support young people, and availability of low-cost options.
The directory is designed for clinicians, patients, and families to quickly find age-appropriate services in a young person’s local area. It includes location, contact details, eligibility criteria, and cost, for easy patient referrals.
Spotlight on PICS resources - Medication information sheets
Did you know that we have almost 50 information sheets just around medications?
They cover a spectrum of different drugs used in childhood cancer treatment, including information like:
- the medication’s purpose
- other names
- what it looks like
- how it’s administered
- side effects
- any further details to be aware of.
There are also dedicated resources on handling chemotherapy medications, and medication and sharps return and disposal.
In addition, they are all available in multiple languages, including Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Dari. Together, this suite of resources helps families access and understand vital treatment information during a crucial time.
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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