Governance

The expert groups are structured into groupings to assist in the alignment with other international bodies to facilitate communication and participation. The expert groups reflect clinical groupings such as Gastrointestinal rather than Colorectal. Chairs have been apppointed to each cancer specific grouping. These chairs then form one or more ‘authorship’ groups who are responsible for the development of the cancer protocols.

The Cancer Services Advisory Committee (CanSAC) provides leadership in the development, dissemination and preservation of a national structure for useable, evidence-based cancer pathology reporting standards and guidelines.

Interconnectivity to international bodies such as the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR), College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) UK via the CanSAC membership are an integral part of the governance structure.

Incorporating:

• Round Table participants – 2007 and 2009
• Other stakeholders such as those on the notifications list
• College fellows

The key purpose in the creation of the National Stakeholder list is to ensure maximum coverage for information and feedback and to maintain an up-to-date contact list to target the correct people.

The Project Group provide guidance on the running of the project.

Membership

• A/Prof Chris Hemmings, Anatomical Pathologist, RCPA (CHAIR)
• Dr Debra Graves, RCPA CEO
• Prof James Kench, Anatomical Pathologist, ICCR
• Prof Jane Dahlstrom, Anatomical Pathologist
• Dr Claire Cooke-Yarborough, Anatomical Pathologist, Cancer Institute NSW
• Dr Christine Biondi, Cancer Australia
• Prof David Roder, Epidemiologist, Cancer Australia
• A/Prof Michael Legg, PITUS
• Representatives from the Department of Health 
• Dr Christina Selinger, Project Officer, Structured Pathology Reporting of Cancer Project

The project group meets on a 4-6 week basis via teleconference to:

• To monitor project progress
• To review risks and issues
• To provide advice and direction to resolve issues

A subset of this group comprising Chris Hemmings and Debra Graves form the executive committee, who are empowered to make decisions relating to the project on a day to day basis.