Regional cancer patients will have access to brand new radiotherapy services closer to home, thanks to a massive funding boost in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre will receive a new a new Linear Accelerator (Linac) as part of an $11 million funding package, which will also fund Linacs at Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre and University Hospital Geelong.

Linacs use high energy radiation beams to target different cancers with pinpoint accuracy and can be used to treat a range of patients with both simple and complex issues.

The three Linacs will each be able to treat up to 50 people per day, and the new Linac in Gippsland will deliver approximately 425 extra radiation courses each year.

The investment will reduce the number of regional Victorians being referred to city services and increase the number of patients who are able to get their treatments faster and closer to home.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 is delivering a massive investment in regional health, including huge investments in local projects and more health workers to care for regional Victorians.

Regional health projects across the State will be funded through a massive $300 million boost to the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, taking total investment in the fund to $790 million since it started in 2016.

The extra investment will give health services the resources to do targeted upgrades and expands on what is the largest health grants program in the state’s history.

We’re backing our healthcare workers with training and the extra pair of helping hands they need, so they can give you the very best care.

That’s why the Budget is delivering funding to train and hire up to 7,000 new healthcare workers, including 5,000 nurses.

We’ll provide 1,125 new Registered Undergraduate Nursing Positions and 75 new Registered Undergraduate Student of Midwifery roles over the next two years, and we’re also recruiting up to 2,000 ex-pat and international healthcare workers through a global workforce recruitment drive.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley

“These new machines will mean more regional Victorians diagnosed with cancer will have access to the very best treatment, close to their family, friends and support networks.”

“Victorians are entitled to get the best quality health care, no matter where they live – which is why we’re making such significant investments right across regional Victoria.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“A cancer diagnosis can be an incredibly tough time for families – our aim is to make it that little bit easier by ensuring regional Victorians can access timely treatments, without the hassle of travel.”  

“Having a new Linac machine in our own backyard will be so important for patients in Gippsland and will mean they have the best technology possible on hand during their treatment.”