Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men — with approximately 24,000 new diagnoses each year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in men. Despite this prevalence, prostate cancer research and support services remain underfunded relative to the disease burden. Grant funding supports research, early detection, specialist treatment, survivorship, and community support for the hundreds of thousands of Australian men living with prostate cancer.
Statistics
Who is at risk
Types and staging
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA)
PCFA is the peak national prostate cancer organisation:
- Research grants (competitive research programme)
- Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses (over 130 funded nationwide)
- Prostate cancer support groups
- Public awareness campaigns (Movember partnership)
- Policy advocacy
Movember
Movember is a global men's health charity raising significant prostate cancer funding:
- Research grants through PCFA
- Clinical trial support
- Mental health programmes for men with prostate cancer
- International collaborative research
NHMRC
NHMRC funds prostate cancer research — competitive grants across:
- Disease mechanisms (why prostate cancers become aggressive)
- Treatment improvements
- Biomarker development
- Health services research
Cancer Council Australia
Cancer Council funds research and support services across all cancers including prostate — through:
- Research grants
- Helpline (13 11 20)
- Information and support resources
State Cancer Councils
State Cancer Councils fund local research and patient support:
- Prostate cancer nurses
- Support groups
- Financial assistance
Research
Early detection
Treatment support
Survivorship
Living with and after prostate cancer:
- Exercise physiology for cancer survivorship (evidence-based benefit)
- Psychological support (anxiety, depression in diagnosis and treatment)
- Relationships and sexuality after treatment (very common challenge — erectile dysfunction, intimacy)
- Peer support groups
- Rural survivorship programmes
Metastatic prostate cancer
Advanced disease requires specific support:
- Metastatic disease specialist support
- Pain management and symptom control
- Palliative care integration
- End-of-life care for prostate cancer
Indigenous men's health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men have:
- Later diagnosis (less access to screening)
- Poorer outcomes
- Cultural barriers to help-seeking and prostate discussions
Culturally safe prostate cancer programmes require community leadership and cultural adaptation.
Prostate cancer sits within the broader men's health challenge:
- Men are less likely to seek healthcare
- Cultural norms around masculinity discourage symptom reporting
- Psychological impact of diagnosis and treatment often unaddressed
- Prostate cancer discussions involve intimate body function (urination, sexual function) — stigmatised
Effective prostate cancer programmes address men's health culture, not just the medical condition.
Men-centred service design
Services designed for men — not simply adapted from gender-neutral or female-oriented services. Show understanding of men's help-seeking barriers and how your programme addresses them.
Side effect honesty
Prostate cancer treatment side effects (erectile dysfunction, incontinence, fatigue) are significant quality of life issues. Applications that address these honestly and practically are more compelling than those that focus only on survival outcomes.
Exercise evidence
Exercise improves outcomes in prostate cancer — through multiple mechanisms. Reference the evidence for exercise interventions in prostate cancer survivorship.
Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses
PCa Specialist Nurses are one of the most evidence-supported interventions for prostate cancer outcomes. Applications for nurse-delivered programmes are well-regarded.
Rural and remote access
Rural men have worse prostate cancer outcomes. Applications addressing geographic equity are compelling.
Tahua's grants management platform supports cancer foundations and prostate cancer funders — with research grant management, clinical programme tracking, survivor outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help prostate cancer funders demonstrate their investment in better outcomes for Australian men and their families.