What’s happening?
A national call has gone out to Northern Queensland women who have experienced gynaecological cancer to help improve future patient outcomes through a unique education program run by the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG).
The Survivors Teaching Students® (STS) program invites survivors to share their personal stories with medical and nursing students to raise awareness, boost empathy, and improve early diagnosis rates.
Why it matters
Every day in Australia, 19 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer and six of them will die. Women living in Northern Queensland and other rural or regional areas face greater challenges, including delays in diagnosis and limited access to care.
Alison Evans, CEO of ANZGOG, said, “We’re inviting women from across Northern QLD to be part of this remarkable initiative. Your story could be the one that helps a future doctor or nurse recognise the signs of gynaecological cancer and save a life.”
Local Impact
Women from Northern Queensland are being encouraged to join the STS program as volunteers. By doing so, they can educate students and help reduce the delay in diagnosis that often affects rural patients. No public speaking experience is needed, just a willingness to share in a supportive setting.
Volunteers report that participation is both rewarding and empowering. It helps give purpose to their experience while influencing how future healthcare professionals treat and support patients.
By the numbers
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19 Australian women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every day
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6 women die from it daily
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20,000+ students have already participated in STS since 2017
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22 universities across Australia and New Zealand host the program
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Over 100 community volunteers support STS across the country
Zoom In
Shiva Sridhar, a medical student at Monash University, said, “What we learn through textbooks and lectures can never truly capture the essence of the illness experience and hearing from the women themselves provided great insight into how this disease affected their day-to-day life.”
Zoom Out
The STS program is part of ANZGOG’s broader mission to improve outcomes and quality of life for those diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. STS operates under license from the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance in the USA and is supported by ANZGOG’s fundraising arm, WomenCan.
What to look for next
ANZGOG aims to expand STS participation across regional areas. Women from Northern Queensland who are willing to share their stories can register at www.anzgog.org.au/sts.
Supporters can also donate via WomenCan.org.au to keep the program growing.
