The project aims to reduce anxiety and trauma for skull base cancer patients by creating a range of resources which outline their healthcare journey, including lived experiences from former patients. 

1. Patient focus groups to gain insight into the lived experiences of patients who have gone through treatment following a skull base cancer diagnosis. These focus groups will identify gaps in health literacy that is currently available and highlight areas of improvement.

2. Skull Base patient advocate presentations to provide real world, lived experience advice and stories to help patients understand what they are facing with their healthcare journey ahead

3. Skull base specific surgical and treatment pamphlets to describe in layman’s terms with appropriate diagrams and pictures to outline what patients can expect following diagnosis. The pamphlets will provide details about specific diagnoses as well as contact details for the team involved in the patient’s healthcare journey.

4. Video presentations from patient advocates and clinicians to provide information about the patient experience, the process of the Head and Neck Clinic and Skull Base Multi-Disciplinary Team and an introduction to the treatment team.

5. 3D printed anatomical models to enable treating clinicians to better explain the surgical process to patients in a practical manner.

1. Access to in-depth information created in an easy-to-understand format including diagrams and illustrations to increase understanding by patients and their families.

2. Increased health literacy provided our patients greater control over their health and wellbeing through interactions with our service.

3. Access to real world experiences from ‘lived experience experts’ who the patients and their families can relate to.

4. Created a more personalised experience with our health-care system, which has not only increased their health literacy enabling them to make better informed choices, but provided access to get to know their treating team via video presentations.

5. A more collaborative approach to their health care journey by enabling them to become partners in the process rather than recipients of a service.

6. Access information and videos from the comfort of their own home in a time that suits them so they can properly digest the information.

The RBWH Foundation plays a pivotal role in advancing patient care and medical research at one of Australia's leading hospitals. Through their funding and advocacy, they enable clinicians and researchers to access the resources they need to deliver life-saving treatments and explore groundbreaking medical solutions. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Foundation is its ability to connect generosity with purpose. Their grant funding has facilitated critical research projects, purchased life-changing equipment, and supported programs that address both the physical and emotional wellbeing of patients and families. Our team has personally witnessed the outcomes made possible by their generosity and support.