Neuroblastoma Australia has welcomed the release of the National Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Roadmap, describing it as an important step forward for children and families affected by cancer.

Published in May, the Roadmap sets out a national vision for improving outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and identifies three key priorities: supportive care, emerging technologies and therapies, and access to clinical trials.

Importantly for the neuroblastoma community, the Roadmap specifically recognises CAR T-cell therapy as an emerging treatment requiring a stronger national approach. It acknowledges that access to CAR T-cell therapy can currently depend on where a child lives and highlights the need for more equitable access across Australia.

The Roadmap also recognises that CAR T-cell therapy and other emerging treatments should be considered earlier in care planning, rather than only as treatments of last resort. This reflects what many families and clinicians have long advocated for: access to innovative therapies at a time when they may have the greatest impact.

While the Roadmap itself does not provide direct funding for new treatments, it establishes an important policy framework that can help shape future investment, clinical trial access and treatment pathways.

For Neuroblastoma Australia, the inclusion of CAR T-cell therapy in a national policy document is a significant milestone. It demonstrates growing recognition of the potential role these therapies can play in improving outcomes for children with high-risk cancers such as neuroblastoma.

We will continue to work with government, researchers, clinicians and the broader childhood cancer community to ensure the priorities outlined in the Roadmap translate into meaningful action for children and families.

We look forward to sharing further updates as implementation plans develop.

Click on the image below to read the Roadmap