Equity, diversity and inclusion

The EDI statement is a statement of intent for GI Cancer Trials. It is an acknowledgement of the need for continual and sustained effort to understand and address the factors that contribute to disparities in outcomes for people with GI cancers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

We know that the factors contributing to disparities in outcomes are complex. Many require significant systemic and cultural change. We don’t purport to have all of the answers nor do we think that change will be easy. We won’t always get it right. However, we are committed to trying and know that our efforts will ultimately strengthen the reach and relevance of our research.

We are already taking steps to increase the diversity of the GI Cancer Trials membership and our Committees. Over the past year our Board and staff have undertaken cultural competency training and we are embedding this as an expectation for all new starters. And we are implementing ways to make it easier for people to participate in our research, through e-consent, tele-trials and translations.

We are at the start of a journey of improvement and will continue to strengthen our efforts in this space as part of our next strategic planning cycle. This will include working with other like-minded organisations, sharing what we are learning and leveraging activities that are already working elsewhere.

We will be sharing examples of our activities on our website and through our newsletters and other forums. We invite members, partners and the GI cancer community to challenge our thinking, let us know what’s working and remind us when we can do better. We look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback and to sharing our progress with you. You can contact us here.

Since launching our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement in November 2023, we have made significant progress towards our goals, with the principle of ‘demonstrated action and continual improvement’ guiding the way.

Many of our efforts have focused on the teletrial model to enable greater access to trials for people in regional, rural and remote (RRR) areas. Also known as decentralised trials, they represent a future where patients and their experiences are at the centre of oncology research and development. Instead of having patients jump through hoops to access trials of novel treatments at a major cancer centre, we need to bring the trial to the patient in their local communities or even in their homes.

Over the next five years, there will likely be a greater adoption of remote monitoring technologies and collaboration with local networks, pathology and imaging facilities to expand access to trials, and by leveraging these changes, we may accelerate the clinical development of trials thereby faster translation of results into practice.

Summary of activities and progress in 2024:

Membership and Committees:

• Growth in diverse skills: We have seen a 16% increase in GI Cancer Trials members, including from areas currently less represented in the membership including Indigenous health, nuclear medicine, gastroenterology and pathology. We have acknowledged Radiologists as a separate discipline and created a joint ASM Sub-committee with Radiation Oncologists. Our committees increasingly include representation from members in Aotearoa New Zealand with efforts continuing to ensure representation on all committees.
• Welcoming new expertise: The ‘Aboriginal Liaison Officer’ category has been added as an option for our membership and GI Cancer Trials team has made a proactive effort to grow our network of Indigenous Health experts. As part of this, the first session of the 2024 ASM was codesigned with Prof Gail Garvey. We also introduced Teletrial Ambassadors to our Working Parties, including a representative from the Australian Teletrial Program.
• New collaborations: Members from GICaNN, a national network of GI nurses, have connected with the Group and will be joining our 2025 ASM planning committee to increase nurse involvement with clinical trials.

Processes and Research:

• Teletrial implementation: Significant focus has been placed on implementing the teletrial model to reduce barriers to clinical trial participation. We redesigned our concept development process to include teletrial clusters to ensure that our trials are designed pragmatically with people from RRR areas in mind, and have appropriate budgets and resourcing to support this. We continue to build on our strong relationship with the Australian Teletrial Program and proactively communicate our trial portfolio to regional coordinating centres to facilitate teletrial clusters. Our team are working hard to establish the necessary supervision plans and delegations within each teletrial cluster to ensure trial assessments are conducted with appropriate oversight.
• Trial budgets: We have redesigned how we develop budget for trials to provide travel support for all study participants, and additional support for RRR patients, to ease the financial burden of participating in trials.
• Patient information: Our Patient Informed Consent forms have been updated to reflect gender diversity. Engagement with Medicines Australia, AIATSIS and a network of NSW-based Aboriginal Liaison Officers is underway to ensure we’re on the right path to improve communication of trial information.
• E-consent roll-out: We have introduced e-consent, through our provider, Consentic, so patients can consent to our trials online as an alternative to an in-person appointment. The platform is easy to use and understand and includes an animated video and an option to translate the video into multiple languages. This enables potential trial participants to watch the video and discuss the information with their loved ones and take the time to absorb the information at home.
• Improved data capture: A standardised approach to collecting ANZ-specific ethnicity categories has been introduced for all new trials so our information is reliable for analysis and reporting. This has previously been a significant barrier to reporting on demographics of trial participants and measuring our efforts to improve trial participation of historically underserved populations.
• Yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: A First Nations-led video series, directed by Madison Shakespeare, Gadigal Traditional Custodian & former GI Cancer Trials Community Advisory Panel Member, will be launched in 2025. Over the course of a year, Madison travelled Australia, yarning with others on what a self-determined cancer journey could look like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With an emphasis on GI cancers, the resulting series is a seedpod of human experience and resilience, containing honest, actionable and culturally specific advice.

Workplace:

• Inclusion training: The SBS Inclusion Program was introduced for all employees to further embrace diversity and promote a safe and happy workplace. Upon completion of each module, we have held small breakout discussions to discuss the program content in a way where everyone’s voice can be heard.
• Storytelling processes: Improved storytelling processes, including the consent process, for people with lived experience of GI cancer will enable stronger longer-term relationships and better trust-building. The new processes were presented at an all-staff session to ensure everyone in the organisation represents our relationship-first approach.
• Revised work from home policy: The updated policy offers improved opportunities for employees to work flexibly to support the work/life juggle.
• Paid parental leave policy: We launched a paid parental leave policy to support our employees through one of life’s biggest transitions.

Looking to 2025, we will continue to embed our new research processes and focus on expanding our collaborations and partnerships including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting theme will be aligned to this focus.

Another key priority is rolling out changes to our website to improve accessibility for vision impaired users and undertaking website projects to address cultural safety in how we talk about cancer, trials and treatments, especially for First Nations people and other culturally diverse groups.

Finally, in 2025 we enter our new strategy planning period for 2025-2030 where will further engrain our EDI approach into all elements of our organisational strategy.

In 2025, our focus shifted from planning to practice. With the launch of our 2025–2030 Strategy – which embeds equity, diversity and inclusion throughout our strategic priorities – we concentrated on implementing and embedding the changes initiated in 2024.

This update outlines the tangible progress made across our membership, research, organisational processes and workplace culture, demonstrating how EDI principles are being integrated into our day-to-day operations and long-term impact.

Summary of recent activities and progress:

Membership and Committees:

• Membership growth and representation: Continued growth in membership, including the expansion of Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) subcommittees to 18 members, supporting broader representation and participation.
• New committee: The Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Committee was established to strengthen specialty representation and leadership pathways.
• Collaboration with : Ongoing collaboration with Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLOs) to support culturally informed engagement and research practices.

Processes:

• Seedpod of Yarns: This First Nations-led video series was launched in 2025, directed by Madison Shakespeare, Gadigal Traditional Custodian and former Community Advisory Panel member. Over the course of a year, Madison travelled across Australia, yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about what a self-determined cancer journey could look like, with a focus on GI cancer. The series shares honest, culturally specific insights that will strengthen relationships with community and support member education in culturally safe care. View the series
  • A campaign promoting the Seedpod of Yarns series and the accompanying patient brochure ran during NAIDOC Week. The brochures were enthusiastically received by members and partners, requiring a second print run within weeks.
• Public acknowledgements: An Acknowledgement of Country and an EDI statement were added to the website as a visible demonstration of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Website accessibility improvements: Styling and colour updates improved readability and navigation of the website, .
• Clearer, more inclusive website content: To support equitable access to information and improve health literacy, we strengthened the clarity, relevance and tone of key website content. This included redeveloping the Frequently Asked Questions page into a single, easy-to-navigate page written in warmer, more accessible language for lay audiences. We also developed an evergreen cancer stories library, creating a culturally respectful and supportive space where people affected by GI cancer can see their experiences reflected, preserved and shared in an accessible online environment.
• New partnership: We partnered with the Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation to mutually enhance the access to, resourcing for and delivery of clinical research opportunities.

Research:

• Inclusive trial design in practice: The STOPNET trial is a great example of how the EDI activities introduced in 2024 are being applied. The trial was designed as a teletrial to enable participation from regional rural, and remote areas. Travel support budget was included from the outset to aid participants, and the database was set up to capture ethnicity and location data.
  • STOPNET case study: A regional patient received funding to travel to and stay for two nights in a major city to access specialised treatment available at only six hospitals nationwide. We then worked with the regional hospital closest to the patient to establish the trial locally as a teletrial, enabling all follow-up visits to be completed closer to home. We coordinated logistics and processes between the two hospitals, supporting both the patient journey and the hospitals involved, despite no existing formal processes between them.
• 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM): Our 27^th ASM opened with an Indigenous-designed and led session on “Collaborations with Communities”. Delegate feedback included: “The very public inclusion of collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples gave great insight.” Since improving our data capture processes, more trials are now reporting on EDI aspects of recruitment. We also financially supported 20 early career researchers, study coordinators, and nurses to attend the meeting.

Workplace:

• Inclusion training:The SBS Inclusion Program, introduced in 2024, continued in 2025, further strengthening staff awareness and capability in embracing diversity and contributing to a safe and inclusive workplace.
• Flexible work practices: While many organisations have implemented mandatory return-to-office policies, we continue to support a hybrid working model, enabling employees to balance work responsibilities with personal commitments.