The federal government has announced a $16.9 million initiative that aims to improve cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Indigenous people are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and have poorer survival outcomes compared to non-Indigenous people in Australia; They are approximately 40 percent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous people.

The Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program aims to improve access to treatment and culturally safe cancer care. The program, under the stewardship of Cancer Australia, will allocate up to $16.9 million over three years to support up to 20 partnerships between cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations nationwide.

Partnerships, with funding of up to $1 million each, will aim at establishing innovative, community-driven local activities designed to improve the delivery of cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Malarndirri McCarthy said the federal government is "working every day to close the gap" in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

"Partnerships with community-controlled organisations are important if we are to make meaningful strides in closing the gap and improving supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians affected by cancer," she said.

Cancer Australia chief executive Professor Dorothy Keefe said the new partnership model will "foster strengthened and sustained relationships" between cancer services and community-controlled organisations to improve cultural safety and equity of access.

"We are delighted to open this grants program as another step towards improving cancer outcomes and experiences for First Nations people with cancer, and in bringing us closer to making the Australian Cancer Plan's vision a reality," she said.

Applications for the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program opened 23 July and close on 23 October, 2024.

More information on the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care grant program and other Cancer Australia initiatives are available on the Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes | Cancer Australia website.