Cancer Australia has contracted the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) to establish and lead a multidisciplinary consortium to undertake implementation research on the application of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) Nodule Management Protocol (the Protocol).
The project will investigate the effectiveness, acceptability and applicability of the Protocol in the Australian healthcare setting. The multidisciplinary consortium will guide the research design and its implementation.
A Steering Committee, comprised of (but not limited to) representatives from each consortium partner, will oversee the overall direction of the project, ensure alignment with the research objectives and approve key decisions.
Based on the outcomes of this project, TSANZ will deliver an implementation framework and recommendations to Cancer Australia to improve the consistency, clarity, equity and clinical utility of the Protocol across the health system.
Steering Committee leadership
The Steering Committee will be led by TSANZ, in collaboration with the Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Radiologists (RANZCR), and in partnership with Cancer Australia.
Steering Committee Roles and Responsibilities
The Steering Committee will:
- Guide the development of key documents for the project, in line with the project objectives and
activities outlined in Cancer Australia’s contract with TSANZ
- Oversee the overall direction of the project to ensure it produces actionable, policy-relevant advice
and recommendations to inform updates to the Program Guidelines and operational frameworks
- Provide expert advice to ensure it is conducted across diverse clinical contexts, including regional,
remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings
- Review and endorse key project documents such as the project plan, research protocol, ethics
submissions, and reports
- Advise on risks and provide guidance on mitigation strategies
- Offer guidance to support liaison with various governance groups (including the NLCSP’s Expert
Advisory Committee (EAC) and Project Advisory Group (PAG), Cancer Australia’s Research and Data
Advisory Group (RDAG), and the Cancer and Population Screening (CAPS) Committee), and the
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR), Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), and professional peak bodies and Colleges
- Seek, consider, and facilitate advice or questions from stakeholders (government, clinician and
community organisations) to inform operationalising future recommendations and protocol
refinement
Stage 2: Full Steering Committee
Following endorsement of the Project Plan and governance framework, the Steering Committee will expand
to include the broader national consortium and stakeholder representation.
In addition to the Core Steering Committee members, the Full Steering Committee may include
representatives from:
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- Australian & New Zealand Society of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS)
- The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)
- Consumer Representatives – up to 2
- Cancer Council Australia
- Lung Foundation Australia (LFA)
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
- National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
- Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA)
- Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
Steering Committee Assigned Working Groups
Working groups may be formed to support the delivery of the project. The Steering Committee will provide
direction and oversight to any working groups and may co-opt additional members onto working groups to
support their activities.
Meeting Schedule and Committee Participation
- Once every 6 to 8 weeks, 1 hour – December 2025 to May 2027
- Meeting days will alternate between Tuesday and Wednesdays to allow for those with conflicting
commitments to attend
- Opt-in honoraria will be made available to steering committee members to compensate for time
(excluding government employees)
- Out-of-session pre-readings and content reviews
- The project may be extended beyond this period for a 12-month extension following review by Cancer
Australia
How to apply
Refer to the Terms of Reference (PDF) for further information, including selection criteria, meeting protocols and current members.
To apply, please submit the following to AFOEM@racp.edu.au: