Sunbed campaigner acknowledged as one of most influential Australians
17 December 2014
Congratulations to MIA’s Community Co-ordinator, Jay Allen, for being acknowledged on the honour roll of Australia’s most influential people in the non-profit sector.
As a former sunbed user, Jay was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2008 – a diagnosis that changed his life, turning the former truck driver into a passionate advocate to have sunbeds banned across Australia.
“I started the campaign to ban solariums in Australia in December 2008 because I wasn’t aware of the risks involved when I used them. I didn’t want others to go through what I did by exposing themselves to the harm of these dangerous machines, not knowing the risks associated with them.” Jay says. “With this ban, our future generations will reap the benefits.”
By teaming up with Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, NSW Greens MP Dr John Kaye, and leading health professor at The University of Sydney Professor Simon Chapman, and together with the support of Melanoma Institute Australia, Jay has ensured the banning of solariums got the attention it deserved.
“I’ve had many meetings with politicians all over Australia sharing my messages about the dangers of solarium use, ran petitions, awareness days, etc.” says Jay. “Persistence has been the key and always speaking from the heart about a real issue that is costing many Australians their life.”
Jay started the campaign that saw sunbeds banned initially in NSW and then throughout Australia. He continues to passionately raise awareness of melanoma and funds for a cure. His campaigning has now moved to New Zealand where he has teamed up with melanoma survivors and key organisations to achieve a ban.
Community Fundraising December Wrap-Up
We are extremely grateful for our community fundraisers, who, even in this difficult time, have given up their time and effort to fundraise so we can continue to work towards our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Two melanoma treatments approved for PBS listing
Melanoma patients are set to benefit from subsidised access to immunotherapy treatment for high risk early-stage and advanced-stage melanoma patients.
Immunotherapy: the decade's biggest health advance
An informative article on how immunotherapy is revolutionising cancer treatment, written by Jill Margo and featured in the Australian Financial Review.
Boost to Melanoma Services in the Riverina
Melanoma patients and their families in the Riverina will benefit from strengthened and sustained melanoma services with the merger of the Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust and Melanoma Institute Australia.
Winner of the SunSafe Student Ambassador Program announced
Belmont High School at Lake Macquarie has been announced winner of the 2019 SunSafe Student Ambassador Program video competition.
Community Fundraising November Wrap-Up
It’s time again to say thank you to our amazing community fundraisers!
MIA & MPA Patient Information Evening videos now available
Videos of the sessions at the recent Patient Information Evening co-hosted by Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) are now available for viewing.
MIA shines in poster session
MIA is well-represented in the poster sessions at the Society for Melanoma Research 2019 Congress in the USA, with four poster presentations being given by members of our translational research lab.
MIA Co-Medical Director opens SMR Congress in USA
Professor Georgina Long has today opened the Society for Melanoma Research 2019 Congress in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Highly Cited Researchers List names MIA Co-Medical Directors
MIA’s Co-Medical Directors, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, have both been named Highly Cited Researchers, according to the Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list.
MPA and MIA collaboration
Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) and Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) have announced a new multi-year agreement to provide enhanced support services for melanoma patients nationally.
Community Fundraising October Wrap-Up
It is time again to say thank you to our incredible community fundraisers who are helping us get closer to our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Promising data for advanced melanoma patients
MIA has presented promising data regarding progression-free survival rates for advanced melanoma patients at the ESMO 2019 Congress in Barcelona.
Melanoma Information Forum
We
Community Fundraising September Wrap-Up
Another month has flown by and yet again we have a host of amazing community fundraisers who generously gave up their time to help us reach our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Notice for Supporters to Submit to PBAC
Comments in favour of giving patients with BRAF-positive melanoma access to first-line immunotherapy need to be submitted online prior to October 9, 2019.
Tune into Jay's Longest Melanoma March Channel 10 documentary
Jay's Longest Melanoma March documentary is screening this Sunday 22 September at 1pm (AEST) on Channel 10, capturing behind the scenes of the 2000km walk, Adelaide to Sydney in 50 days. Uniting to end melanoma.
Professor Georgina Long Co -Medical Director named Women of Influence in AFR Top 100 List
We are proud to announce that our Professor Georgina
Community Fundraising August Wrap-Up
It’s been a month since we highlighted some of our incredibly generous community fundraisers. We thought we’d have a look back at August and put the spotlight on more of the wonderful people who give up their time to fundraise for MIA, so we can continue to edge closer to our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
From Lab Coats To Lycra - Australian Melanoma experts take on world Triathlon championships
They are a formidable team - in work and in play