Chief Executive Officer : Jeff Dunn

General Manager, Research: Suzanne Chambers

Director, Cancer Registries: Joanne Aitken

Executive Manager, Research: Phillippa Youl

Epidemiology Unit

Psycho-oncology Research Unit

Biostatistician,

Senior Research Fellow:

Academic qualifications: PhD
Job title: Director, Cancer Registries

Background: Associate Professor Joanne Aitken is the Director of the Queensland Cancer Registry. Joanne holds a joint appointment with the University of Queensland as Associate Professor in the School of Population Health and an adjunct appointment with the School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology. Joanne is a distinguished research scientist who has worked in the field of cancer epidemiology for the past 15 years. She completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in 1991, a Master of Science in Epidemiology at Harvard University in the same year, and moved to The Cancer Council Queensland in 1997 to lead a world-first investigation of early detection of melanoma. She now leads a diverse research program in cancer control.

Research interests: Large-scale population-based studies of the genetic and environmental causes of cancer; to improve our understanding of the prevention of cancer; and to improve methods of early detection of cancer.

Current research projects: Skin clinics and the diagnosis and management of skin cancer in Queensland; Melanoma diagnosis and skin screening in Queensland; Patterns of  melanoma in Queensland; Colorectal cancer and quality of life; Evaluating patterns of cancer care in Queensland; Geographical differentials in cancer incidence and survival in Queensland;  The Australian Paediatric Cancer Registry; The ProsCan Program: Patterns of care and health-related outcomes for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in Queensland.

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Qualifications: BSc, MSc in Genetic Counselling (Hons)

Job title: Project Officer

:Background: After completing her honours research project, which looked at the socio-demographic disparities in the uptake of prenatal screening tests, Rachel worked briefly as a Research Assistant at Griffith University for the same study. Rachel became interested in the impact of cancer and cancer research whilst undertaking her studies in Genetic Counselling and has been with the TCCQ since February 2007.

Research interests:

socio-demographic inequalities in health care, cancer epidemiology 

Current research projects:  Patterns of Cancer Care Evaluation

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Academic qualifications: BSc, BApplSc(Hons), MmedSc, PhD, AStat
Job title: Biostatistician, Senior Research Fellow

Background: Peter Baade has a PhD in the area of Social and Preventive Medicine from the University of Queensland. He is responsible for providing statistical and methodological support for the Centre’s research programs, and also to conduct independent research in cancer epidemiology, with a particular focus on descriptive analyses of population-based cancer data. He previously worked for seven years in a government health department as a senior statistician, where he was the lead author on several population-based cancer reports. He also has published a number of peer-reviewed journal articles, both as lead author and co-author, looking at skin cancer, prostate cancer and smoking, as well as methodological issues. Peter is an accredited statistician (Astat) with the Statistical Society of Queensland.

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Academic qualifications: Dr Med (France),  M Hum Serv (Rehab)

Job title: Health Coach

Background: Dominique started working as a part-time health coach on the Chronic Disease Project at the VRCC in February 2007. Dominique has worked in diabetes clinical research at Princess Alexandra Hospital, in the tertiary rehabilitation sector and more recently at Queensland University of Technology and Monash University on research projects investigating innovative ways to support chronic disease self-management and promote  healthy behaviours.

Research interests: Behaviour change and chronic disease self-management.

Current research projects:

• Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan)
• Identifying the psychosocial care needs of people with cancer in regional Queensland

Job title: Research Support Officer

Background: Lorraine joined The Cancer Council Queensland in November 2003 as a telephone interviewer and initially worked on the pilot of the Queensland Cancer Risk Study. Since this time, Lorraine has worked on a number of cancer-related projects as a telephone interviewer. In Lorraine’s current role, she assists with interviewing and data collection for the ProsCan Project and the Townsville Psychosocial Project.

Research interests: Understanding the experiences of cancer survivors, in particular men with prostate cancer.

Current research projects:

• Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan)
• Identifying the psychosocial care needs of people with cancer in regional Queensland

Qualifications: RN, BA, BBehSci (Hons), PhD
Job Title: General Manager, Programs and Research

Background: Associate Professor Suzanne Steginga is the General Manager, Programs and Research at The Cancer Council Queensland. Suzanne has worked at The Cancer Council Queensland since 1989 and over that time has undertaken the development of a broad range of cancer support services and led research in adjustment to breast, gynaecological and prostate cancer, cancer nursing and physician education, peer support in cancer, supportive care interventions, patient decision making and patient education.  

Research interests: Delivering decision-related and psychosocial support services to cancer patient and their families.

Current research projects:

• The ProsCan Program: Patterns of care and health-related outcomes for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in Queensland
• The ProsCan Program: Development and evaluation of a new support program for men diagnosed with prostate cancer
• Proscan for CouplesTM : a supportive care intervention that targets the specific challenges couples experience at diagnosis of localised prostate cancer and after radical prostatectomy
• Attitudes to help seeking: predicting use of psychosocial care services

Academic qualifications: BHSc (Acupuncture), MPH
Job title: Research Assistant

Background: Peter completed a BHSc (acupuncture), including a hospital internship in Nanning, Guanxi, PRC, at the Australian College of Natural Medicine (1998) prior to embarking on private practice. He was recently awarded an NHMRC public health postgraduate scholarship (2007) to complete his PhD. Peter joined The Cancer Council Queensland in 2007.

Research interests:

Current research projects:

• Queensland Cancer Risk Study
• Skin Clinics Project

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Academic qualifications:BAppSc(Med Sci), MPH&TM
Job title: Assistant Data Analyst

Background:

Susanna joined The Cancer Council Queensland in June 2007. She has a background in epidemiology and is currently studying the Graduate Diploma in Science (Biostatistics) through UQ. Her role includes assisting with statistical analyses of population-based data.

Research interests: cancer epidemiology and trends, obesity

Current research projects:

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Job title: QCOG Professional Officer

Background: Heather joined The Cancer Council Queensland in 2002 having worked previously in the pharmaceutical industry and business administration.  Providing secretariat support for the Queensland Co-operative Oncology Group (QCOG) and the various Special Interest Groups in breast, colorectal and lung cancer, Heather works with oncologists, surgeons and other specialist physicians to facilitate and promote participation in multicentre collaborative cancer clinical trials in Queensland.   

Current research projects: Cancer Clinical Trial Data Manager Grant Scheme, Lung Cancer Clinical Practice Survey 

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Academic qualifications: PhD
Job title: Executive Director

Background: Professor Jeff Dunn is the Executive Director of The Cancer Council Queensland.  Jeff currently holds professorial appointments with the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science and James Cook University’s Faculty of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences.  Jeff has worked at The Cancer Council Queensland since 1989 and maintains a particular interest in supportive care for cancer patients and is actively involved in research in this field.

Jeff continues to serve on numerous advisory and planning committees to The Cancer Council Australia and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC).  He currently serves, among other things, as the UICC's Strategic Leader for Capacity Building, an ex officio to the UICC Board, an Adviser to the Reach to Recovery International Breast Cancer Support Service and Chair of the Asia Pacific Cancer Society Training Grants Programme (APCASOT).  At the national level, he is a Board member of The Cancer Council Australia and is also a committee member to their Audit and Risk Committee and Regional Affairs Working Group.

Current research projects:

• Peer support and prostate cancer: A three-phase study
• Investigating the unmet supportive care needs of people with brain tumours and their families in Queensland
• Community attitudes to passive smoking in private places
• Documenting the experiences of women in the Amazon Heart Changing Gears motorcycle ride
• The translation of clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer into practice

Academic qualifications: BSc (Hons)
Job title: Project Manager

Background: Kathy is a psychologist who has being working in research for 15 years. Kathy hasworked in couples, health and predominantly mental health research.

Research interests : Psychotic disorders and other severe psychiatric disorders. Research into chronic disease, such as cancer and heart disease, are also of interest.

Current research projects: ProActive Heart is the project I currently manage. It is a telephone based secondary prevention program for patients who have experienced a myocardial-infarct (heart attack).

Academic qualifications: BSc (Hons), MPhil Candidate
Job title: Senior Research Officer

Background: Megan has more than 10 years experience in psychological and psychosocial research. She joined The Cancer Council Queensland in September 2000 after five years in the academic sector. Megan was initially employed by The Cancer Council Queensland to manage the Queensland arm of the Australian Melanoma Family Study. In March 2004, she became the Project Manager of the prostate cancer supportive care and patient outcomes study, a project focusing on both the psychosocial experiences and outcomes of men with prostate cancer and ways to improve their psychosocial care.

Research interests : Understanding and predicting psychological and psychosocial distress following a cancer diagnosis. Improving the psychological and psychosocial care of cancer survivors and their families. Cancer support, particularly in relation to prostate cancer. Megan is currently undertaking a Master of Philosophy through Griffith University focusing on the psychosocial care needs of partners of men with prostate cancer.

Current research projects:

• Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan)
• Identifying the psychosocial care needs of people with cancer in regional Queensland

Academic qualifications: Bachelor Degree - Teaching / Certificate IV Assessment and Training in the Workplace 

Job title: Research Support Officer

Background: Julieta joined The Cancer Council Queensland in 2008, and comes from a teaching background.  Julieta  was a language teacher at the Institute of Modern Languages (UQ) for 12 years and also used to be a High School teacher in Portugal for 6 years. She has worked in different community based organisations, assisting and supporting migrants and refugees within the Child Care Sector. She compiled and facilitated a number of workshops and seminars for Child Care Workers and Teachers on Diversity, Anti-Bias and Cross-Cultural Communication.

Research interests :Facilitating workshops on Diversity and Cultural Awareness / Human relationships and Social Behaviour

Current research projects: ProActive Heart

Qualifications: BHlthSci (Public Health) (Hons), )PhD

Job title: Project Manager

Background: Sara joined The Cancer Council Queensland in early 2007.  She has a PhD from the Queensland University of Technology based in public health and her previous research experience includes profiling the alternative therapies used by menopausal women, assessing the needs of diabetes patients and managing an exercise intervention with breast cancer patients.

Research interests:  colorectal cancer, development of psychosocial support services

Current research projects:

• Cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and support needs of those affected by brain tumours
• A psychosocial and lifestyle intervention for colorectal cancer patients

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Qualifications: BPsySc

Job title: Research Assistant

Background: Sam has a degree in Psychology from Queensland University of Technology and has just begun his research career. Sam also teaches English as a second language.

Research interests: Measurement, psychometrics, skin cancer prevention and early detection.

Current research projects: Melanoma Case Control Study, Melanoma Survivors Study

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Job title: Nurse Counsellor and The Cancer Council Helpline Co-ordinator

Background: Brigid joined The Cancer Council Queensland in 1993. She has experience in the delivery of psycho education programs, resource development and in the coordination of The Cancer Council Helpline.

Brigid is a Nurse Counsellor on the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care and Patient Outcome Project (ProsCan), and the Co-ordinator of The Cancer Council Helpline. In her role as Nurse Counsellor she provides a telephone-based psychological intervention to men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. As the Co-ordinator of The Cancer Council Helpline she manages the day-to-day operations of the Helpline, trains and supervises staff and provides information about cancer and support to people with a diagnosis of cancer and their family, health professionals and the general public.

Research interests : Delivery of telephone-based psychosocial interventions to people with a diagnosis of cancer and their family.

Current research projects:

• Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan)
• Evaluation of The Cancer Council Helpline

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Academic qualifications: BSc(Hons), MPH, PhD, Health Coach
Job title: Manager, Psycho-Oncology Research Unit

Background: Anna has been researching and working in chronic disease prevention and management for many years for organisations such as Queensland Health, Divisions of General Practice, National Heart Foundation of Australia, James Cook University and Queensland University of Technology.  Anna is particularly interested in innovative models of service delivery, such as web-based and telephonic support, that may improve access and availability of chronic disease prevention and management for disadvantaged groups who do not, or cannot, currently access face-to-face services.

The Cancer Council Queensland Psycho-Oncology Research Unit was developed late 2005, and Anna was appointed as the Head of the Unit in February 2006. Along with the Unit Director, Dr Suzanne Steginga, Anna is building the Unit to become a leading Australian research team in the psychological, social, and behavioural aspects of cancer control.

Research interests: Innovative models of service delivery for cancer control; cancer prevention, brain cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer.

Current research projects:

• Evaluation of The Cancer Council Helpline and Cancer Counselling Service
• Cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and support needs of those affected by brain tumours
• Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan)
• Colorectal Cancer and Quality of Life Study
• A randomised trial of skin cancer prevention in aquatics settings: The pool cool program
• Development of a research program in Indigenous cancer control

Qualifications: RN, BA Psych/Sociology, Grad Dip Community Psych, Certificate in Counselling

Job title: Research Support Officer

Background: Jan's most recent work prior to commencing with TCCQ was as a telephone interviewer with Queensland Health and Government Statistics.

Research interests:Health Promotion; Disease Prevention; Helping support people diagnosed with acute and chronic illnesses; Interventions to improve the Quality of Life of people with acute/chronic diseases.

Current research projects: ProActive Heart Project and Canchange Project

QualificationsBA(Hons) (in Psychology), MAppSc (Research) 

Job title: Program Manager, Program Development and Evaluation

Background: Karen has worked in social science and public health research since 1995, predominately in the university sector. She joined The Cancer Council Queensland in December 2007. As a senior research officer at the Queensland University of Technology, she evaluated the feasibility of colorectal cancer screening from the perspective of health professionals and the community. She completed her Masters in 2007 and her  thesis was titled: Repeat adherence to colorectal cancer screening utilising faecal occult blood testing: A community-based approach in a rural setting. Karen has also worked on projects investigating health and ageing, including the development of a healthy ageing web-based resource and a cognitive ageing study. Most recently, Karen has gained extensive experience in program evaluation assessing a five-year, multi-strategy, community-based falls prevention program.

Research interests:Program evaluation, colorectal cancer screening and health and ageing  

Current research projects:

• Evaluation of The Cancer Council Helpline
• Review of the Financial Assistance Program
• Evaluation of LifeSmart - a web-based health promotion tool

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Academic qualifications:: BA (Sociology), MPH (Epidemiology and Biostatistics)
Job title: Project Manager

Background::  Lauren joined The Cancer Council Queensland in February 2006.  Her previous work experience includes assisting with the day-to-day management of the Optimising Preterm Infant Outcomes study (a clinical trial assessing a diagnostic pathway for preterm children).  She has also completed an internship at the World Health Organization in Geneva where she produced a multi purpose advocacy brochure for the Health Leadership Programme that was published and distributed externally.

Research Interests::  Lauren’s interests include the impact of social inequalities on cancer risk, cancer outcomes and health in general.  She is also interested in developing and assessing interventions to address these inequalities.

Current research projects: Geographical Survival Differences in Queensland

Qualifications: BBehSci/BCCJ, BPsychSci (Hons), PhD Candidate

Job title: Research Asisstant, Psycho-Oncology Research Unit.

Background: Melissa began working with The Cancer Council Queensland in 2007 as part of her honours research project, in which she investigated the effects of peer support on psychological adjustment in a sample of recipients of the Breast Cancer Support Service. Having recently finished her honours thesis, she is currently contributing to the evaluation of this service and will commence another research project with The Cancer Council Queensland in early 2008 as apart of her PhD.

Research interests: Psychological mechanisms involved in the effects of peer support on cancer sufferers, e.g. social support and social comparison processes.

Current research projects: Breast Cancer Support Service Project

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Academic qualifications: BSc MScs Comm
Job title: Project Manager

Background: Brigid has been at The Cancer Council Queensland for more eight years, and has worked on a number of research projects during that time. Brigid is currently undertaking a PhD in epidemiology at The University of Queensland, investigating the associations between physical activity and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors.

Research interests: Physical activity, overweight/obesity

Current research projects: What determines the quality of life experienced by people with colorectal cancer?

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Academic qualifications: Dip. Tech. Social Work
Job title: Research Support Officer

Background: Helen has been a telephone interviewer for The Queensland Cancer Fund since 1999, working on several cancer related projects over that time. At present she is interviewing on the Help Project which is evaluating the Cancer Council Queensland Helpline.

Research interests:

Current research projects: Help Project - An evaluation of The Cancer Council Queensland Helpline.

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Qualifications:BPsych (Hons)

Job title: Research Assistant

Background:  Michelle is currently undertaking her PhD in Psychology at Griffith University, examining how men with a family history of prostate cancer make decisions about testing for the early detection of prostate cancer.  Michelle joined The Cancer Council Queensland in November 2005.

Research interests:  Decision-making and reasoning in health decisions

Current research projects: The Prostate Cancer Family Study: examining the risk perceptions and preventive health behaviours of men with a family history of prostate cancer.

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Academic qualifications: RN
Job title: Nurse Counsellor

Background: Sylvia worked for a number of years as a Registered Nurse in Oncology and Palliative Care in Rockhampton before commencing with The Cancer Council Queensland in 1997 as Community Services Co-ordinator for Central Queensland. Sylvia commenced her current role as Nurse Counsellor with the ProsCan Study in 2005. During her telephone contact she provides decision support, psycho-education and information to men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Research interests: Education and support of people diagnosed with cancer.

Current research projects: Helping men with prostate cancer make informed choices about their treatment (ProsCan).

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Academic qualifications: BBus/BHlthSc
Job title: Project Officer

Background: Carla has been with The Cancer Council Queensland since 2003 and has worked on a number of projects within the Epidemiology unit. Prior to commencing at TCCQ, Carla worked briefly at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research providing assistance to numerous projects. Currently, Carla is working as part of the Skin Cancer Research Programs team.

Research interests: Melanoma Survivors Study

Current research projects: Cancer epidemiology, skin cancer detection and prevention, and cancer outcomes

Qualifications:  BSc, Master of Public Health (Current)
Job Title: Project Manager

Background:  Bridie's interest in cancer research began as a Research Assistant looking at surgical and adjuvant therapies for soft tissue sarcoma. She then moved on to data management and analysis in the area of medications and patient safety. Bridie joined the Epidemiology Unit at The Cancer Council Queensland in March of 2006. This move has allowed her to follow her interest in cancer research whilst complimenting her postgraduate studies.

Research interests: Cancer epidemiology, population based descriptive data, quality of care and patient safety.

Current research projects: Patterns of Cancer Care Evaluation from population based databases

Job Title: Research Support Officer

Background: Monica has been with The Cancer Council Queensland since 1998 working as a telephone interviewer. Since this time, Monica has worked on a number of cancer-related projects. In Monica’s current role, she is the telephone interviewer and assists with data collection for the Colorectal Cancer and Quality of life Study.

Research interests:  Understanding the experiences of cancer survivors.

Current research projects: Colorectal Cancer and Quality of Life Study.

Qualifications: RN, MPH
Job title: Manager, Epidemiology Unit

Background: Pip has a background in epidemiology and clinical oncology and has worked in the cancer epidemiology field for the past 18 years. She is involved in the conception, design and analysis of a number of large-scale projects with a particular focus on skin cancer and early detection. Pip manages the Epidemiology Unit and collaborates on a number of research projects both internally and with external research centres.

Research interests: Pip has a strong interest in skin cancer, skin screening and early detection. Her other research interests are in the methodology, design and management of large population-based studies and in research related to the development of second malignancies in long-term cancer survivors. Pip is currently undertaking a PhD in epidemiology at the University of Queensland investigating the detection and diagnosis of skin cancer in South East Queensland and the role of primary care cancer clinics and general practice.

Current research projects: 

• Skin clinics and the diagnosis and management of skin cancer in Queensland

• Melanoma Screening Trial

• Melanoma diagnosis and skin screening in Queensland

• Long-term melanoma survivors study

• Managing skin cancer in the primary care setting

• Knowledge about, and attitudes towards, vitamin D and consequences for sun protective behaviour amongst the Queensland population.

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Qualifications: BSc
Job title: Biostatistician

Background: Danny has been with The Cancer Council Queensland since June 2005. His role at the VCRCC is to assist with the statistical analyses of population-based cancer data, as well as contributing biostatistical support for the Centre’s research programs. Prior to joining The Cancer Council Queensland, Danny spent 15 years working as a statistician for Queensland Health and the Australian Bureau of Statistics in a variety of roles, mainly involving analysis of routine data collections, survey design, and preparation of statistical reports.

Research interests: Cancer epidemiology, cancer survival, incidence and mortality trends, questionnaire design and survey methodology.

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