THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health
and Regional Services Delivery
JIM TURNOUR MP
Member for Leichhardt
24 July 2009
WELCOMING A NEW BREAST CARE NURSE FOR CAIRNS
The Australian Government today continued its fight against breast cancer with the
appointment of a Breast Care Nurse for the Cairns region.
The Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Warren Snowdon today welcomed Sandra
Gregg, the new McGrath Breast Care Nurse in Cairns and said he knew she would provide
vital information, care and practical and emotional support to women diagnosed with breast
cancer and their families and carers.
“Before the election this Government promised $12 million to the McGrath Foundation to
train, recruit and employ breast care nurses across Australia, and it gives me great pleasure to
meet Sandra here at Cairns Breastscreen and see that promise in action today,” Mr Snowdon
said.
Member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, said she is one of 44 breast care nurses who will be
working in predominantly rural Australia, and one of 10 new breast care nurses in
Queensland.
“Sandra’s work means more local women diagnosed with breast cancer will receive support
from a nurse with specialist breast care skills and training.”
The Minister outlined the Australian Government’s range of initiatives targeting breast
cancer including;
$120 million to provide BreastScreen Australia with state-of-the-art digital
mammography equipment,
$168 million for Herceptin®, for metastatic breast cancer,
$31 million over five years to reimburse external breast prostheses for women who
have had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer, providing up to $400
reimbursement to eligible women through Medicare Australia,
$2.5 million over five years from 2008-09 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation
for a study involving more than 100,000 women, which aims to improve prevention
and treatment of breast cancer.
“Supporting the valuable work of the McGrath Foundation is but one part of our strategy to
combat breast cancer,” Mr Snowdon said. “Let there be no doubt, the Australian
Government is committed to the fight against breast cancer.”
Media contact: Kate Sieper 02 6277 7427 and 0488 484 689.
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