Saturday 25 January 2020

The Leukaemia Foundation is today congratulating Blood Cancer Taskforce member Dr Joe Collins who has been appointed as a Member to the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours.

Dr Collins, a survivor of blood cancer himself, has been recognised for his significant service to the community through charitable initiatives, exceptional leadership and advocacy in childhood cancer.

Dr Collins is currently the Chairman of the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Chairman of the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Foundation. He has held many leadership positions in some of Australia’s most influential childhood cancer associations, including being the Founding Chairman of the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.

In 2019, Dr Collins joined Australia’s Blood Cancer Taskforce, which includes 30 of Australia’s leading blood cancer experts and stakeholders, to deliver the country’s first National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer, working towards a goal of zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.

A Leukaemia Foundation spokesperson said the Australia Day Honour for Dr Joe Collins was recognition for many years of tireless dedication towards a better future for those battling cancer.

“Dr Collins is a true hero of childhood cancer in Australia and has dedicated his life to helping Australians fight this disease. We are privileged to have him as part of the Blood Cancer Taskforce to help us deliver this plan which provides a blueprint to help tackle key issues facing the blood cancer community,” they said.

The Taskforce was established in September 2019 with the support of Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and followed the release of the first-of-its-kind State of the Nation: Blood Cancer in Australia report which identified the true size, scale and impact of blood cancer today and into the future.

Find out more about the Report and the Leukaemia Foundation’s response My Life Counts, a summary of key findings, statistics and recommendations for reducing the impact of blood cancer in Australia.

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