Co-designing a Lead from Lived Experience education program by and for consumers. 

The Cancer Consumer-led Research Partnership is a pioneering, statewide, multi-stakeholder initiative that amplifies the voices of cancer consumers through engagement, research and education. Made possible by the Department of Health’s $1.6M investment, this collaborative effort involves five cancer control organisations: VCCC Alliance, Regional Trial Network – Victoria, Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium, Cancer Council Victoria, and University of Melbourne. Deakin University and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have contributed to developing the Lead from Lived Experience education program.

Lived Experience Panellists:

Melissa Sheldon

Melissa Sheldon is a Wemba Wemba woman living on Yorta Yorta Country, in Echuca (meeting of the waters). She is a patient who has survived IV Melanoma, first diagnosed 16 years ago. Melissa’s lived experience and collaboration with healthcare workers, support networks, and consumers offer valuable insights. This has strengthened her commitment to health equity for marginalised groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and rural communities. Currently, Melissa advises on Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance (VCCC Alliance) programs, including the SKILLED Internship, Rural Education, and Statewide Consumer-led Leadership programs. She is also a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee at Echuca Regional Health (ERH) and the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN).

Naveena Nekkalapudi

Naveena Nekkalapudi has lived expertise of early breast cancer and is passionate about improving the experience of future individuals diagnosed with cancer, with particular interests in equity of care, health system navigation, maintaining patient quality of life and the reduction of financial toxicity as a consequence of cancer treatments. In her previous (corporate) life, she was a senior professional with extensive strategy, research, M&A and management skills across a range of industries – dairy, trustee, funds management and private health insurance. Naveena is a consumer representative of Breast Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Council Victoria, Breast Cancer Trials, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to name a few.

Steve Cavill

Steve Cavill is a Business Intelligence and Enterprise Reporting Professional with 25 years of information technology experience. He is involved in numerous health services projects in the role of a consumer/lived experience advisor.

Dr Julia Paxino

Dr. Julia Paxino is a Research Fellow working in the Consumer-Led Research Partnership and is dedicated to advancing inclusive and impactful research. Her work focuses on amplifying the voice of people with lived experience and ensuring that diverse perspectives help shape healthcare innovations. She is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships that uphold the values of collaboration, respect, and integrity. She holds a PhD in interprofessional communication and has expertise in qualitative and participatory research methodologies.

Facilitators:

Pauline Ryan

Pauline is the Program Manager for the Statewide Consumer-led Research Program, driven by a passion for integrating and elevating the expertise of lived experience. She firmly believes that we have much to learn from each other and is committed to questioning the status quo and continuously seeking improvement.

With a background as an intensive care and cardiac nurse, nurse manager, and national manager for support programs at the Heart Foundation, Pauline brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the importance of consumer involvement in the healthcare sector.

Outside of her professional life, Pauline is a proud mother of two beautiful girls and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. She is also a passionate health advocate. Pauline can often be heard singing along to tracks or quoting lyrics from Taylor Swift, adding a touch of music and fun to her daily life.

Dr Stacey Panozzo 

Stacey Panozzo is a Program Consumer Liaison for the State-wide Consumer-led Research Program, providing support to the Research Working Group. Stacey works for the Regional Trials Network Victoria with a special interest in amplifying the expertise of those with a lived experience of cancer in regional and rural areas. Stacey also works as a Research Fellow, with 12+ years of experience in health services research with a focus on health equity. She works collaboratively with people who have cancer or life limiting illness, and their carers.

When she’s not at work, Stacey loves spending time walking and hiking, propagating indoor plants, and being an aunty to some rather awesome nephews.