Optimal Care Pathway for Children with Cancer

The challenge

Every child with cancer deserves care that is safe, coordinated and tailored to their age and stage of development - from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship and, for some, end-of-life care. Whilst children are recognised as a priority population under the Australian Cancer Plan, no single national pathway exists describing what that optimal, whole-journey care should look like for this age group.

Some guidance exists at a state level or for specific cancer types, but nothing brings this together into a single, nationally endorsed roadmap for a child's whole cancer journey. Clinicians, services, families and policymakers have identified this as a priority gap, including through national consultations and ministerial roundtables on childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer.

The research

The Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Children with Cancer project will develop Australia’s first nationally consistent, evidence‑based pathway to guide the care of children aged 0–14 years with cancer. The pathway will sit within the National Optimal Care Pathways Framework and the Australian Cancer Plan, aligning particularly with the goals of improving consumer experience and delivering world-class, coordinated cancer care. It will be delivered as three linked resources: a full OCP for health professionals and services, a Quick Reference Guide, and a Guide to Best Cancer Care for families and communities.

Commissioned by Cancer Australia and delivered as a collaborative partnership between the Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS), the Australian and New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG), and Children's Cancer CoLab - working together to ensure the project is delivered in alignment with Cancer Australia’s OCP framework.

PICS leads the substantive development of the pathway and associated resources, including literature review, evidence synthesis, drafting and refinement, supported by a dedicated health writer. ANZCHOG coordinates a multidisciplinary Expert Working Group, bringing together paediatric oncology clinicians, primary care and allied health professionals, sector organisations and lived experience representatives from across Australia.

The project follows a clear, staged development process, including governance establishment, comprehensive literature review, stakeholder mapping and consultation, iterative drafting and expert review, public consultation, and final endorsement. Content will be grounded in current clinical guidelines, published evidence and consensus, and will highlight age‑specific considerations and good practice exemplars where evidence is emerging or limited. To maximise accessibility, the consumer guide will be professionally edited, translated into multiple languages and produced in written and audio formats.

The impact

The OCP for Children with Cancer will give clinicians, health services and families a shared, nationally agreed guidance for what optimal care should look like for children with cancer, wherever they live. By clearly outlining recommended care at each step of the cancer journey, the pathway will support more consistent, coordinated and timely care; clarify roles and responsibilities across services; and strengthen communication and shared decision making with families.

For health services and policymakers, the pathway will provide an evidence‑based benchmark to guide service planning and quality improvement aligned to national expectations. It will help identify where paediatric‑specific needs require additional attention, highlight opportunities to improve equity of access and outcomes. For children and families, the Guide to Best Cancer Care will translate this work into practical, accessible information, helping them understand what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to advocate for the care they need throughout and beyond treatment.

Children's Cancer CoLab Funding Information

Project timeline: May 2026 – April 2028
‍Impact Program/s:  Survivorship and Living Well
‍CoLab Collaborating Institutions: Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS), Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG)