Australia is pioneering a transformative approach to combating skin cancer, seeking to revolutionize early detection through a nurse-led care model augmented by advanced technology. With melanoma rates among the highest globally—affecting two out of every three Australians by the age of 70—the urgency for innovative solutions has never been greater. Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) argue that empowering primary care nurses with specialized training in dermoscopy combined with artificial intelligence (AI) can bridge critical gaps in the healthcare system, particularly for underserved rural and regional populations.
The initiative, which formally launched in February 2023, integrates the use of dermoscopy—a non-invasive imaging technique that magnifies and illuminates skin lesions—coupled with AI diagnostic algorithms capable of analyzing suspicious moles and growths with remarkable accuracy. This dual strategy not only enhances the diagnostic acumen of nurses but also accelerates the identification of potentially malignant lesions, effectively triaging cases that require urgent specialist intervention. This method has been implemented across 13 mobile clinics in South Australia, reaching communities that traditionally face significant barriers to accessing timely skin cancer screening.
Preliminary results from this nurse-led model are encouraging. To date, over 1,200 individuals have been screened, with hundreds of lesions flagged for further examination, including 96 highly suspicious for melanoma. These figures underscore the potential impact of decentralizing expertise in skin cancer detection and reconfiguring care pathways to improve both accessibility and outcomes. Lead researcher Dr. Kim Gibson emphasizes that leveraging the nursing workforce—who constitute the backbone of healthcare in regional Australia—can systematically reduce the delays and inequities fueled by GP shortages and the uneven distribution of dermatologists.
Australia’s health infrastructure currently relies heavily on opportunistic skin checks conducted predominantly by general practitioners, a modus operandi that leaves substantial gaps. In rural areas, the scarcity of GPs results in long waiting times, elevated out-of-pocket expenses, and logistical challenges that deter many residents from seeking screening. The UniSA team believes empowering nurses to undertake dermoscopic evaluations and preliminary diagnoses can mitigate these hurdles. Nurses trained in this model use handheld dermatoscopes, devices that provide high-resolution images of skin lesions, which are then analyzed by AI tools designed to detect morphological patterns indicative of malignancy.
The economic context further accentuates the necessity for rethinking skin cancer detection. Annually, skin cancer claims over 2,200 Australian lives, of which approximately 1,400 deaths stem from melanoma alone. If left unchecked, the financial burden on the healthcare system is projected to exceed $8.7 billion by 2030. By fostering early detection and expediting referrals, the nurse-led model promises not only to save lives but also to significantly alleviate the impending economic strain associated with advanced cancer treatments.
Central to the success of this model is a comprehensive training program developed by the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre (RBRC) at UniSA. Since its inception, 51 primary care nurses have received in-depth instruction in dermoscopy techniques and AI integration, equipping them with the skills necessary for accurate lesion assessment and patient education. The ambition extends beyond state boundaries, with a national target to train 600 nurses, thereby scaling the innovation to meet Australia’s broad geographic and demographic diversity.
Co-author and RBRC Director Professor Marion Eckert projects that, with expanded competencies and subsequent credentialing, nurse practitioners trained in this model will eventually perform skin biopsies and excisions. This evolution of scope could dramatically relieve overwhelmed medical specialists and tertiary care centers, streamlining patient pathways from detection to definitive treatment. Such a shift embodies a paradigm where nurses are not merely facilitators but key clinical actors in the melanoma detection journey.
The disparity in melanoma incidence and mortality between urban and rural populations is stark. Outdoor occupational exposure common in rural settings increases ultraviolet radiation risk, compounding an already high vulnerability. Sadly, these communities also experience higher melanoma mortality rates, a testament to systemic healthcare access inequities. The nurse-led mobile clinic program, by bringing expert-level screening directly into these populations, addresses both the environmental risk factors and structural barriers simultaneously.
Australia’s timing for this program aligns strategically with national policy developments, notably the design of a targeted skin cancer screening initiative focused on high-risk groups. The UniSA researchers advocate for embedding nurses at the forefront of this national strategy, arguing that their inclusion ensures more efficient resource utilization, broader service reach, and cost-effectiveness. This approach mirrors successful nurse-led models that have enhanced breast cancer screening outcomes and suggests transferable efficacy in the context of cutaneous oncology.
From a technological perspective, the AI tools employed in this nurse-led model utilize deep learning algorithms trained on vast datasets of dermoscopic images to recognize subtle visual cues often missed by the human eye. These systems can flag lesions warranting immediate attention, optimize clinical decision-making, and reduce unnecessary biopsies, thereby minimizing patient anxiety and healthcare expenditures. When combined with nurse expertise, the model exemplifies a synergistic blend of human judgment and machine precision.
Community reception to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. Patients report high satisfaction with the accessibility and quality of care provided by trained nurses in the mobile clinics. This acceptance is critical to the model’s sustainability and scalability, indicating that removing traditional gatekeepers and decentralizing screening services encourages broader participation, especially among populations historically marginalized by geographic and socioeconomic factors.
Funding for this groundbreaking initiative is supported by a consortium of organizations including The Hospital Research Foundation, Preventative Health SA, Skin Check Champions, and Country SA Primary Health Network, with training assistance from Skin Smart Australia. This multi-stakeholder backing underscores the broad recognition of the program’s potential impact across clinical, financial, and community domains.
The full findings and perspectives outlining the nurse-led skin cancer detection model are detailed in the paper “A nurse-led model of care in response to Australia’s skin cancer crisis: A discussion paper,” published in the journal Collegian. As skin cancer continues to challenge Australia’s healthcare system, this innovative approach marks a meaningful step towards improved early detection, equitable access, and ultimately, reduced melanoma mortality nationwide.
Article Title: A nurse-led model of care in response to Australia’s skin cancer crisis: A discussion paper
News Publication Date: 1-Oct-2025
Web References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769625000472?via%3Dihub
Image Credits: University of South Australia
Keywords: Skin cancer, Melanoma
