Latest news with #ChrisO'BrienLifehouse
Sydney Morning Herald
09-08-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm not giving up now': Richard Scolyer defies cancer to run City2Surf
Scolyer wants to raise $100,000 for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, one of the centres where he has received treatment since being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in mid 2023. In a cruel coincidence, he was not only a friend and colleague of O'Brien, the late head and neck surgeon who became nationally known from the TV series RPA, but he was diagnosed with the same lethal brain tumour. O'Brien died in 2009; despite 75 per cent of patients dying within 12 months, Scolyer has lasted 26 months so far. But he is not sure whether this is because of the world-first treatment he has tried in the hope of revolutionising brain cancer treatment – a combination of three immunotherapy drugs before surgery to 'debulk' the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine – or whether it's down to genetics or other factors. 'I guess I have some hope [the treatment has worked] based on the fact I'm still here and what our scientific data has shown, but ultimately you need a clinical trial,' he says. When he learnt the tumour had returned and that he might only have weeks to live, Scolyer set some goals. He decided he would live as full a life as possible, relish the time he had left with his family and friends, and reach his 250th Parkrun. Such is his popularity for his honesty and humility since starting cancer treatment, it was national news when Scolyer made it, crossing the finish line in Sydney's inner west to applause from more than 500 runners and well-wishers. When he has felt well enough, Scolyer has kept running and occasionally cycling since then. After his 258th Parkrun on Saturday, he plans to back up 24 hours later for the City2Surf. While he struggled for a long time with the knowledge his tumour is incurable, Scolyer now seems more accepting – bar that miracle – that it will inevitably kill him. Loading How long does he think he can keep going? 'I don't know,' he says. 'Forever I wish. I hope I'm here 'til the end of the school holidays over summer. That would be great.' A long-time triathlete outside his former roles as co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Scolyer has run the City2Surf 'four or five' times.
The Age
09-08-2025
- Health
- The Age
‘I'm not giving up now': Richard Scolyer defies cancer to run City2Surf
Scolyer wants to raise $100,000 for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, one of the centres where he has received treatment since being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in mid 2023. In a cruel coincidence, he was not only a friend and colleague of O'Brien, the late head and neck surgeon who became nationally known from the TV series RPA, but he was diagnosed with the same lethal brain tumour. O'Brien died in 2009; despite 75 per cent of patients dying within 12 months, Scolyer has lasted 26 months so far. But he is not sure whether this is because of the world-first treatment he has tried in the hope of revolutionising brain cancer treatment – a combination of three immunotherapy drugs before surgery to 'debulk' the tumour and a personalised cancer vaccine – or whether it's down to genetics or other factors. 'I guess I have some hope [the treatment has worked] based on the fact I'm still here and what our scientific data has shown, but ultimately you need a clinical trial,' he says. When he learnt the tumour had returned and that he might only have weeks to live, Scolyer set some goals. He decided he would live as full a life as possible, relish the time he had left with his family and friends, and reach his 250th Parkrun. Such is his popularity for his honesty and humility since starting cancer treatment, it was national news when Scolyer made it, crossing the finish line in Sydney's inner west to applause from more than 500 runners and well-wishers. When he has felt well enough, Scolyer has kept running and occasionally cycling since then. After his 258th Parkrun on Saturday, he plans to back up 24 hours later for the City2Surf. While he struggled for a long time with the knowledge his tumour is incurable, Scolyer now seems more accepting – bar that miracle – that it will inevitably kill him. Loading How long does he think he can keep going? 'I don't know,' he says. 'Forever I wish. I hope I'm here 'til the end of the school holidays over summer. That would be great.' A long-time triathlete outside his former roles as co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Scolyer has run the City2Surf 'four or five' times.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Catastrophe': 1000 rural doctor training jobs in limbo as review languishes
Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office. Hundreds of specialist doctor training positions in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are in limbo while a funding review sits with the health department. The specialist training program (STP) funds the salaries and some expenses of more than 1000 trainee doctors around Australia to get supervised experience outside the big city hospitals. But in April the federal health department wrote to the 13 medical colleges administering the program to say it could not guarantee anything beyond 2025. "We acknowledge the timing of the decision may put pressure on colleges to be able to recruit and fill future posts, pending confirmation of future funding arrangements," the department wrote in a message seen by ACM, the publisher of this masthead. "However, at this stage we are unable to provide any information about next steps for the STP post December 2025." The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, which has cancer treatment clinics in Nowra, Orange, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, said the delay was catastrophic for regional communities. "This is a catastrophe," Professor Carsten Palme, the organisation's director of head and neck surgery, said. "This has massive ramifications. "These [specialist training program] positions fund the employment of these people," he said. "We expose them to regional Australia." Professor Palme said as waiting lists for ear, nose and throat surgery grew, the government wasn't providing even an indication of the future of the program. "To train [ear, nose and throat] surgeons you've got to have actual positions," he said. ACM understands an evaluation of the specialist training program was completed in November 2024 and this now sits with the department. The program funds 920 training places and 100 posts for trainee specialists to get at least two thirds of their practical experience in rural Australia, as well as a dedicated specialist scheme in Tasmania. An Australian Medical Association (AMA) report released in April 2025 identified financial incentives to recruit and retain medicos in the bush as a top priority for rural doctors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said it met with the federal health department last week and was assured the program's future "is not uncertain". "We ... welcome details about changes to the funding to align with the program's purpose, which is to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce," college chief executive Stephanie Clota said. The scheme was "critical" for the surgeons' college which ran 64 full time equivalent rural training posts through it in 2025. "To avoid disrupting services in 2026, if there is a change in funding, we have requested that transitional arrangements be factored in," she said. The federal health department confirmed the program was under review but said any decision about its future was up to the government. "The STP is undergoing a period of reform and review, informed by an independent evaluation of the program undertaken in 2024-2025," a spokesman said. "Any decision on future arrangements for the STP, and whether the final evaluation report will be published, are subject to a decision of the government." The scheme funds about seven per cent of non-GP specialist trainees across Australia, while the states and territories take care of the remainder. "Non-GP specialist colleges will be advised once a determination on the future of the program has been made by government," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said the minister's office was yet to receive a copy of the review. *This story has been updated following new information received from Health Minister Mark Butler's office that the program evaluation had not yet been received by his office.
