National Cancer Statistics Clearing House

Overview
The aim of the NCSCH is to foster the development and dissemination of national cancer statistics for Australia and specifically to

• enable computation and publication of national statistics on cancer
• allow tracking of interstate movement of cancer cases via record linkage
• facilitate exchange of scientific and technical information between cancer registries and promote standardisation in the collection and classification of cancer data; and
• facilitate cancer research both nationally and internationally.

The NCSCH receives data from individual State and Territory cancer registries on cancer diagnosed in residents of Australia. This commenced with cases first diagnosed in 1982. The data items provided to the NCSCH by the State and Territory cancer registries enable record linkage to be performed and the analysis of cancer by site and behaviour.

The NCSCH produces reports of national incidence and mortality data. Periodically, analyses of specific cancer sites, cancer histology, differentials in cancer rates by country of birth, geographical variation, trends over time and survival are undertaking on an accumulation of data which permits examination of the data in greater depth.

The NCSCH is able to make available a broad range of statistical data to bona fide researchers after a strict scientific and ethical review process. Research database linkage with the NCSCH requires approvals from the AIHW Ethics Committee and all the State and Territory cancer registries including their ethics committees. General database enquiries and enquiries about the release of statistical data should be directed to .