New free courses in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer care
12 June 2024
Cancer care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) requires a unique approach.
Patients in this age group (15-25 years) face specific challenges that set them apart from both paediatric and older adult cancer patients, requiring specialised treatment and support strategies.
To assist healthcare professionals in navigating the best course of care for their patients, multidisciplinary experts from the Victorian AYA Cancer Service, based at Peter Mac, are launching free courses to share their unique expertise in this space to improve AYA cancer care across the nation.
“AYA patients are navigating treatment during their most important formative years,” Samantha Van Staalduinen (left), Statewide Educator at the Victorian AYA Cancer Service explains.
“These courses will enhance understanding of AYA cancer care through a unique approach to learning, with each course taking about five minutes every other day over approximately eight weeks.”
Opening today, Cancer Care for Adolescents and Young Adults I and II are freely available, introductory-level courses for clinical and non-clinical professionals providing a snapshot of key issues, topics and concepts in AYA oncology and cancer care.
The work is part of a legacy partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health and the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics.
How the courses work:
Delivered via the QStream platform, courses employ an approach to spaced education backed by a strong evidence base to support its efficacy and acceptability.
Courses consist entirely of multiple-choice questions and answers delivered via email at regular and repeated intervals. Learners respond to two questions every other day and receive immediate feedback along with evidence-based information, key messages and resources.
To enhance retention, each question is presented at least twice over the course of enrolment.
ENROL HERE* (you’ll first need to sign up to the QStream course platform, which only requires your name and email address).
*Learners are encouraged to complete Part I before enrolling in Part II
For more information contact Samantha Van Staalduinen at