Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Navigating Job Security After Cancer: A Legal and Policy Review to Inform Survivorship Care (126615)

Laurelie R Wishart 1 2 3 , Louisa Collins 4 , Megan Varlow 5 , Sue Woodall 6 , Ashleigh R Sharman 7 8 , Raymond J Chan 9
  1. Office of the Chief Allied Health Practitioner, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. School of Medicine & Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  4. Viertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  5. Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. LiveWorkCancer, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  8. Supportive Care, Chris O'Brien Life House, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  9. Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Objectives/Purpose:  
Working-age cancer survivors often experience challenges returning to and remaining in employment, contributing to financial toxicity, distress and health disparities. Despite this, the legal and policy frameworks that shape job security for cancer survivors in Australia remain under-explored. This study aims to systematically analyse how Australian legislation, case law, and policy documents address job security for people with cancer, focusing on return-to-work, job retention, and workplace protections. 

Sample and Setting: 
The study will examine relevant Commonwealth and state legislation, case law (e.g., Fair Work Commission, federal and state courts, human rights tribunals), and policy documents from government and advocacy bodies (e.g., Fair Work Ombudsman, Cancer Council). Data will be drawn from publicly available databases and white/grey literature. 

Procedures: 
Using doctrinal legal analysis, we will identify rights, obligations, protections, and enforcement mechanisms under key statutes (including Fair Work Act, Disability Discrimination Act, National Employment Standards). We will synthesise case law decisions concerning cancer-related employment disputes, focusing on issues such as reasonable adjustment, unfair dismissal, and discrimination. Policy documents will be analysed using structured content analysis to assess alignment with statutory obligations, practical guidance for employers and survivors, and opportunities for improving survivor outcomes. 

Results: 
Data collection and extraction are ongoing, with analysis and synthesis scheduled for July–September 2025. Preliminary results are anticipated for presentation at the conference, identifying key enablers, barriers, and gaps in the legal and policy frameworks affecting job security for cancer survivors and their employers. 

Conclusion and Clinical Implications: 
This study will provide the first comprehensive mapping of Australia’s legal and policy landscape relevant to job security after cancer. The findings will inform recommendations for policymakers, health professionals, and employers to better support cancer survivors in returning to and sustaining employment. Ultimately, this aims to reduce financial toxicity and enhance equitable, person-centred survivorship care.