The National Centre for Monitoring Cancer (NCMC) was established in 2009 within the AIHW to improve population-level cancer data and related evidence in Australia and meet an increasing demand for cancer information. The NCMC aims to monitor cancer rates, their impact and outcomes, and identify and address gaps in population-level cancer data to improve the evidence base. The Cancer Monitoring Advisory Group (CMAG) provides expert advice on the NCMC work program and is guided by the National Centre for Monitoring Cancer Framework: 2012.

The Cancer Monitoring Advisory Group (CMAG) provides expert advice to the AIHW about the activities of the NCMC. The CMAG includes members who are familiar with the cancer data environment; current cancer-related priorities, policies, practices; and emerging issues.

To ensure that the work of the NCMC complements other activities in the cancer environment the NCMC collaborates closely with major stakeholders, in particular the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR), the Department of Health and Cancer Australia.

Figure: Australia’s cancer data environment: key organisations and data collections

key organisations and data collections

Note: Rectangles and dark arrows respectively represent organisations and relationships between them. Circles and light arrows respectively represent national cancer and screening data sources and the flow of data between them.

Source: adapted from Figure 2.2, National Centre for Monitoring Cancer Framework: 2012