Boost to melanoma support in WA

31 January 2020
Melanoma patients and their families across Western Australia will benefit from strengthened and expanded services with the merging of melanomaWA and Melanoma Institute Australia.
One Australian dies from melanoma every five hours and WA is second only to QLD in terms of melanoma incidence across Australia.
Chairman of melanomaWA, Martin Slabbert, said the merger with Melanoma Institute Australia was exciting and would have widespread benefits for the entire West Australian community.
‘The two highly respected organisations will be working together on a regional and national level regarding awareness, education, support, and research,’ Mr Slabbert said.
‘Importantly, the alignment will also provide local, regional, and remote melanoma patients with greater access to medical specialists through Melanoma Institute Australia’s network. This coordinated approach has been well received by patients connected with melanomaWA.’
CEO of Melanoma Institute Australia, Matthew Browne, said the merger would ensure increased resources dedicated to reducing the impact of melanoma on the community in WA.
‘Melanoma Institute Australia is delighted to be merging with melanomaWA,’ Mr Browne said. ‘Melanoma is, unfortunately, Australia’s national cancer and accordingly combining organisations from west coast and the east coast gives us all the best chance of fighting this disease.
‘Joining two strong melanoma organisations immediately brings increased resources and services to melanoma patients as well as a broader coordinated reach in raising awareness about early detection and prevention strategies including sun safety.’
The first fundraising and awareness event of the combined entity will be Melanoma March which will be held in Bunbury on 15th March and at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach on 29th March. Funds raised from the family-friendly Melanoma March events will support melanoma research to pave the way for new and life-saving treatments.

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