State Groups (SGs)
CNSA State Groups, also known as SGs, are local chapters of CNSA members working together to enable professional networking and education opportunities close to where CNSA members live. Each group has a defined geographical area and when you first join CNSA you will automatically become a member of your closest State Group. New groups can be created where there is sufficient interest. Currently there are six active groups in Australia.
Contact the State Groups Coordinator at [email protected] for more information.
Click here to download the State Group Terms of Reference.
NSW Hunter
The NSW Hunter State Group was previously the COSA Nurses group, before being established in 2000 under the CNSA banner. The membership base is made of RNs and ENs in both the private and public sector including, regional and metropolitan hospitals and community health centres. These nurses come from the specialty areas of Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Palliative Care, Paediatrics, Metropolitan and Rural and Remote hospitals.
Committee Members
- Gillian Blanchard (Chair)
- Laura Healey
- Casey Hutchinson
- Yolande Cox
- Zoe Feighan
- Alisha Gooley
- Wendy Oakley
- Philippa Dean
Committee Meetings
The first committee meeting for 2024 will be held on Wednesday 10 April.
- Phone:
- 0411 160 595
NSW Sydney
The New South Wales Sydney State Group (NSW SYD SG) is committed to ensuring the nurses have access to relevant education in order to maintain and expand their knowledge and skill base. Our impetus is to positively influence cancer care by educating and supporting cancer nurses, with the ultimate aim of improving health outcomes for people affected by cancer.
The NSW SYD SG had its genesis in the original ‘COSA Nurses Group’. The CNSA was established officially in 1999 and the NSW SYD SG was one of the first to transfer to the National Group circa 2000/2001.
Our membership currently consists of cancer nurses working in a variety of clinical, academic, management, and research settings, and within various tumour streams, in both the public and private sector.
Committee Members
- Paula McLeod (Chair)
- Noeline Rozanc (Secretary)
- Sally Carey
- Kelly Conway
- Tamara Fernandez
- Shahn Coburn
- Wendy Han
Committee Meetings
The NSW State Group Executive Committee meets 2nd monthly and we have four Group Meetings a year, which precede our Education Evenings.
Special Initiatives
For some of our cancer nurses, geographical isolation limits opportunities for regional and rural nurses to not only extend their knowledge base but also to interact with their peers. Over the last two years, the NSW State Group has developed more formal relationships with Industry, to enhance sponsorship opportunities, and increase revenue. Some of these funds will be directed towards increasing educational opportunities for the rural and remote members of our group.
- Email:
- [email protected]
NSW Mid North Coast
The NSW Mid North Coast State Group (NSW MNC SG) covers a vast distance from Port Macquarie in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north and provides healthcare services across a geographic area of approximately 11,335 square kilometres. Our meetings are held on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti, Birpai and Nganyaywana nations. We are a motivated group of Nurses who value excellence and best practice. We look forward to creating opportunities for our cancer community to share knowledge and foster networking.
Committee Members
- Hannah Burrell (Chair)
- Jill Harrington
- Jane Kelly
- Emily Saul
- Tricia Bourke
- Kirsty Baxter
- Suzzanna Fettell
- Natalie Schmude
Committee Meetings
Committee meetings are held every second month.
- Phone:
- 0404 603 343
QLD & NT
The CNSA Queensland and Northern Territory State Group (QLD&NT SG) are pleased to announce the results from the recent call for nominations.
Committee Members
- Tess Beane (Co-Chair)
- Carli Shaw (Co-Chair)
- Doreen Tapsall (Secretary)
- Monique Richter
- Alexandra Merry
- Benjamin Tan
- Brodie Murphy
- Leah Curtis
- Anne Franke
- Pammie Ellem
- Erin McLennan
- Bethany Crowe
- Jamie Linich
Committee Meetings
Committee meetings are held quarterly.
- Phone:
- 0439 413 498, 0487 702 996
SA
The CNSA South Australian State Group (SA SG) is committed to exploring, developing and delivering opportunities for its local members in line with the values and strategic aims of CNSA. The SA SG represents members who are employed in both the public and the private sectors as well as non-government organisations and come from all areas of the cancer care continuum.
The committee will continue to plan high quality educational meetings exploring topics identified by members in a local member survey and provide opportunities for members to network with each other and with our industry counterparts to promote the delivery of best practice cancer care across the state.
Committee Members
- Gabby Vigar (Chair)
- Kristen Manuel (Treasurer)
- Julie Campbell
- Angela Luppino
- Alison Walsh
- Karen Buckley
- Erin Shooter
- Nicole Sullivan
- Annie Zeitz
- Helen Phillips
Committee Meetings
The committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0438 038 957
VIC & TAS
Although the bulk of the activities of the CNSA Victorian & Tasmania State Group (VIC & TAS SG) have been based in the metro area, the group represents metro and regional/rural cancer nurses in Victoria and Tasmania.
The CNSA VIC & TAS SG previously supported Victorian cancer nurses as the Melbourne State Group for more than 10 years.
Committee Members
- Tracie Bertram (Co-Chair)
- Robyn Mclyntyre(Co-Chair)
- Katie Cao
- Kara Sweeney
- Kerrilie Phillips
- Zeina Hayes
- Jessica Moargan
- Jennifer Francis
Committee Meetings
Committee meetings are held bimonthly with membership educational meeting events held in the alternate months.
Special Initiatives
In 2016 the CNSA Victorian State Group again offered the Nicole King Grant to its members. The grant is named in honour of Nicole King, a past member of CNSA and past Chair of the CNSA Education Committee of the CNSA National Education Sub-Committee and much respected Nurse Educator, who died in 2011. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance of to cancer nurses to promote nurses’ participation in seminars, conferences, post graduate education and other professional development activities that will contribute to the advancement of their cancer nursing practice. The applications open at the beginning of each year through the CNSA National Educational Grants process.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0419 335 658
WA
The CNSA West Australian State Group (WA SG) has developed a reputation for hosting high quality educational events that promote networking and collegiality. The WA SG membership has grown considerably since formation, representing members from the public and private sectors both within the metropolitan and rural regions.
Committee Members
- Christine Henneker (Chair)
- Sara Jaenke (Deputy Chair)
- Therese Thompson (Treasurer/Secretary)
- Sharon Ray
- Claire Kelly
- Lindsay Adriaansen
- Sally Meffan
- Guat Leng Tan
Committee Meetings
The committee meets on the first Thursday of every month from January to November at Genesis Care in Subiaco. An annual planning day is held each year to discuss the plans for the coming year and to set a budget and marketing strategy.
