Up to 70% of people affected by cancer experience clinically significant psychological distress, with Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) among the most persistent and under-addressed concerns (Simard et al., 2013; Butow et al., 2012). Despite national and international guidelines promoting integrated survivorship care, access to structured psycho-oncology support remains limited—particularly across key psychological transition points such as diagnosis, active treatment, completion, and recurrence (COSA, 2016; IPOS, 2018).
The Cancer Rollercoaster is an Australian digital model grounded in psycho-oncology practice that delivers stepped-care support from diagnosis through survivorship and beyond. Developed and led by a senior clinical psychologist, the model includes:
Tiered psychoeducational programs offering structured guidance, emotion regulation strategies, and moderated peer connection within education and support boundaries consistent with Australian clinical standards.
A stratified intervention for FCR, matched to symptom severity: mini-course (mild), 8-week self-paced program (moderate), or manualised, psychologist-led group therapy (severe), with fidelity protocols and clinical oversight in place (Smith et al., 2024; Thompson et al., 2024).
The model draws from evidence-based frameworks including CBT, ACT, CFT, and MCT, which inform both content and clinical interventions. Participants are triaged using a validated tool, with clinician oversight built into escalation pathways. A referral pathway to 1:1 therapy is available for individuals requiring higher-intensity support.
Currently in early-stage implementation, the model is onboarding self-referred cancer survivors and preparing for clinical integration. Preliminary engagement is underway, and the system is structured for integration into both public and private care pathways (Yang et al., 2024).
This abstract outlines the early implementation of a clinician-integrated, psycho-oncology model designed to bridge critical care gaps. It offers accessible, structured support to complement traditional services and extend care across the full cancer pathway.