Those at highest risk of developing skin cancer are outdoor workers, many of whom live and work in rural and remote communities. General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in assessing and detecting skin cancer with 77% of all melanomas diagnosed by Australian GPs, however access to a rural GP with training in skin cancer medicine can be limited or non-existent.
In response to rural communities’ needs for increased access to skin cancer medical services, CheckUP developed the Skin Cancer Early Detection (SCED) program. Funded by the Queensland Government, CheckUP coordinates the delivery of SCED clinics across five priority HHS regions in Queensland (see attached map).
The two key objectives of the program are to:
- Provide place-based health services focused on the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancers,
- Provide upskilling for local GPs to build ongoing community capacity/expertise in skin cancer.
Under the SCED program, GPs with qualifications and/or extensive experience in skin cancer medicine are contracted to travel to rural and remote communities to deliver skin cancer clinics. Patients are offered full‑body dermoscopy, diagnosis and treatment. Prevention is also a focus with providers educating patients about risk factors, sun protection behaviours and how to perform self-skin checks.
In addition, full-day upskilling workshops for GPs were facilitated in five regional locations (see attached report) and attended by 98 GPs, 70% of whom were International Medical Graduates. These free workshops covered the basics of dermoscopy, the diagnosis of skin cancers, case discussions and practical surgical skills.
