IMPACT – Improving Participation and Advocacy for Clinical Trials

IMPACT – Improving Participation and Advocacy for Clinical Trials – is an initiative of the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) assisted by its Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) and generously supported by Avon.

It is a program for women who have participated in a clinical trial conducted by the ANZ BCTG and acknowledges the contribution they have made to breast cancer prevention and cure.

IMPACT aims to provide its members with reliable information so that they may become effective advocates for breast cancer clinical trials in the wider community. It is hoped that this will in turn lead to increased participation in breast cancer clinical trials and encourage infrastructure support for clinical trials research.

IMPACT currently has more than 1,600 members from all states and territories of Australia.

IMPACT aims to:

• Recognise the important contributions made by women to ANZ BCTG clinical trials research;
• Increase participation in breast cancer clinical trials;
• Provide women with reliable up to date information about breast cancer clinical trials research and research in general;
• Educate women about the science of breast cancer and the processes of clinical trials so they can become effective advocates for clinical trials research;
• Educate the wider community about clinical trials research;
• Lobby for increased infrastructure funding for breast cancer clinical trials research; and
• Enhance links between health professionals and women who have participated in clinical trials research.

IMPACT Membership

Membership of IMPACT is only open at this time to women who have participated in an ANZ BCTG clinical trial.

IMPACT membership is free, and women can choose the level of their participation.

Membership benefits include:

• Biannual IMPACT Newsletter – to provide information about research and the research process;
• Information Sessions – to introduce IMPACT and acknowledge women’s contributions to research; 
• Regular mail and email contact – to provide members with ongoing information about research; and
• ANZ BCTG IMPACT Advocate Program – to provide members with the opportunity to participate in an annual program with the aim to equip consumers with knowledge and understanding of the breast cancer clinical trials research process in order to promulgate its importance in the control of breast cancer.

For more information about IMPACT, please call the IMPACT Administrator on 1800 423 444 or email impact@bcia.org.au.