Foundation's support to bolster skills in highly specialised field.
 

Nurse Mia Evans has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Edward Clark Swing for Sarcoma Nurse Fellowship with RPA’s Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Service.

“I’m excited by this new opportunity. I’m looking forward to learning more about the service and contributing to the holistic  care that its highly skilled team provides for sarcoma patients. I hope to be a bright energy in what can be a very scary journey,” she said.

This Fellowship is proudly supported through Swing for Sarcoma, a fundraising initiative established by sarcoma survivor Edward Clark under the auspices of the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF).

During the 12-month fellowship, Mia will be mentored and undertake on-the-job training to help further develop her skills as a future Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in the complex and highly specialised field.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that starts in the body’s bones or soft tissues. It’s prevalent among children and young people, accounting for up to 20 per cent of cancers in teenagers and young adults.

RPA’s Sarcoma Service is one of six dedicated units in Australia and its world-renowned multidisciplinary team diagnoses and treats sarcoma patients from across NSW, interstate and overseas.

Patients with sarcoma may need one or more types of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The service’s multidisciplinary team includes surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pain medicine specialists, pathologists, radiologists and imaging specialists, anaesthetists, clinical trial researchers, nurses, social workers, psychologists, palliative care, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and dietitians. 

Mia has joined the team after working as a nurse in RPA’s orthopaedics ward, where she often cared for sarcoma patients.

“I have been able to be a part of patients' journeys to rehabilitation, help them with their mobility post-surgery and getting home to their loved ones," she said.

“Their stories have really stayed with me. I wanted to learn more about the care of sarcoma patients and that’s a big part of why I was interested in pursuing this fellowship.”

Mia has a Graduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Nursing and has a special interest in osteosarcoma, which is a rare type of bone cancer.

The service’s director, orthopaedic surgeon Associate Professor Richard Boyle said CNCs are the primary point of contact for patients and their highly specialised role demands dedicated training and in-depth knowledge of the service.

“The purpose of the fellowship is to support the development of future CNCs in sarcoma,” Associate Professor Boyle said.

“I’d like to congratulate Mia on receiving the fellowship, which will provide her with an opportunity to advance her clinical experience in bone and soft tissue sarcoma, develop leadership capabilities and enhance her clinical decision-making.”

The fellowship also includes support from the Surgical Outcome Research Centre (SOuRCe) and the RPA Institute of Academic Surgery to complete a quality improvement project or research initiative. 

The Co-Founder of the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation Tania Rice-Brading said it was an honour to support the inaugural sarcoma nurse fellowship.

“The fellowship is named in honour of a much-loved young man whose legacy continues to inspire meaningful progress in sarcoma care,” she said.

“Investing in exceptional nursing leadership through this fellowship reflects our belief that compassionate, specialised care is integral to improving outcomes for patients and families facing sarcoma.” 

CRBF has already worked closely with the service, co-designing three symposiums to bring together patients and their families, clinicians and researchers to help improve patient care and outcomes.

It funds sarcoma research, provides care for patients and families and undertakes collaborative initiatives to improve outcomes and bring hope to those affected by sarcoma.