A New Era of Cancer Care in Western Australia
Western Australia is set to revolutionise cancer treatment and research with the upcoming construction of the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre in Nedlands. This development marks a significant step forward in providing advanced care to patients, aligning the state with world-leading facilities such as the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
The new centre will be designed to integrate cancer treatment, cutting-edge research, and clinical trials into a single, cohesive environment. This model has proven successful elsewhere, offering life-changing benefits to patients by combining scientific innovation with direct patient care.
Once completed, the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will offer a range of services, including inpatient and outpatient care, research, education, and expanded clinical trial capabilities. It will also feature a Cancer Care Coordination Centre (CCCC), which will provide essential support through care coordination, patient navigation, and information services.
Professor Peter Leedman, CEO of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, highlighted the transformative potential of the centre. He stated that comprehensive cancer centres like the one being built in WA are crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing the fragmentation often experienced in traditional cancer care models.
“Research shows that strong collaboration between scientists and clinicians leads to significantly better patient outcomes,” he said. “This integration ensures that patients receive the best possible care, supported by the latest medical advancements.”
In Western Australia, cancer remains a major health challenge, with one in three people expected to die from the disease. Over 14,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, underscoring the urgent need for improved treatment options and support systems.
Premier Roger Cook officially announced the government’s backing for the centre on Saturday, ahead of the next week’s budget. He emphasized that the facility will play a vital role in supporting Western Australians facing cancer, ensuring they have access to the best medical technology, research, and services right here in their home state.
“This project cements Western Australia’s reputation as a global leader in medical research and innovation,” he said. “It will attract top clinical minds to our state while creating hundreds of local jobs during construction and beyond.”
The investment comes as part of a broader initiative to boost the Building Hospitals Fund, increasing it by $500 million to $2 billion in the 2026-27 Budget. This forms part of a $5.5 billion hospital construction program over the next four years.
Planning for the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will begin following the release of a masterplan for the QEII Medical Precinct, which will guide future projects at the Nedlands Health Hub.
Ben Morton, Chair of the Perkins Institute, reiterated the importance of the centre in helping people with cancer live better and longer lives. He expressed the institute’s commitment to delivering this transformational project, entrusted by both the WA State and Federal Governments.
The centre will include 90 multi-day beds, with an additional 30 beds available for expansion, 40 same-day beds and chairs for chemotherapy and haematology, and up to eight intensive care/high dependency beds.
Outpatient services will encompass 36 ambulatory care and specialist clinics, space for two radiation oncology bunkers, four operating theatres, and room for two more theatres, two procedure rooms, and seven imaging services, including CT, MRI, and PET scans.
Research and education services will include expanded clinical trial beds, in addition to the existing six beds and 18 chairs in Linear Clinical Research at QEII Medical Centre. The centre will also feature wet and dry laboratory spaces, function-specific embedded research units, and a cancer tissue biobank.
The Cancer Care Coordination Centre (CCCC) will provide care coordination, patient navigation, and patient information services. It will also offer virtual health services to support regional, remote, and Aboriginal patients living with cancer, working closely with the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Command Centre.
