Primary health care practitioners play an important role in providing care for patients both before and after a cancer diagnosis. There are many resources available to support primary health care practitioners and patients including Optimal Care Pathways.
What are Optimal Care Pathways?
Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) provide guidance on how to best care for patients with specific types of cancers. Each pathway describes key stages in a patient’s cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care.
The OCP is patient-centric and maps the expected ideal care for each stage of the journey. It is designed to support patients no matter where they live or what level of treatment they receive. As such, the pathways are of particular benefit to patients living in rural or remote areas.
OCPs are available for 15 cancer types and have been developed in consultation with clinical experts. For each pathway there is a:
- Detailed clinical pathway for cancer specialists, health professionals and health service administrators
- Quick reference guide to familiarise GPs and primary care providers with the care pathway
- Patient ‘what to expect’ guide to assist patients and people affected by cancer understand all stages of the care pathway.
An OCP guide specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer is also available.
Accessing the Pathways
Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) is working with local integrated cancer support services to ensure Optimal Care Pathways are part of standard practice across all services. For more details, please refer to:
You can also access each OCP and other resource materials via the Cancer Council Victoria website
Care planning
From July 2025, General Practitioner Management Plans (GPMPs) were replaced with GP Chronic Condition Management Plans (GPCCMPs) under the MyMedicare initiative. GPCCMPs can be used to cover all considerations when creating a care plan for a patient living with cancer.
For more information, see the MyMedicare and Chronic Conditions page.
Other cancer support resources
- Victorian PHN Alliance
- Cancer Council Victoria
- What to expect guides for patients
- Bowel Cancer Australia
- WeCan
More information
Contact your Primary Care Engagement Officer