Cancer care centre taking shape at Redcliffe
Construction has started on a new cancer care centre at Redcliffe. Oncology care provider GenesisCare gave political representatives and Moreton Daily a tour of the site today.
Federal Member for Petrie Emma Comer and State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne-Dooley were given an update on construction progress at the site which aims to provide cancer care to more than 450 patients each year.
Slated to open in mid-2026, the centre will be GenesisCare’s 10th in Queensland and part of the new $30 million Altiva Health medical facility by Allamanni Developments.
GenesisCare’s centre will offer high-quality, evidence-based radiation treatments closer to the homes of cancer patients from Redcliffe Peninsula while boosting healthcare options for the wider Moreton Bay community.
GenesisCare’s experienced and sub-specialised group of senior radiation oncologists will lead the centre and offer patients the best possible radiation therapy cancer care across a range of tumour groups.
Located at the Altiva Health development at Silvyn St, the GenesisCare site will operate alongside one of Qscan's flagship medical imaging and radiology clinics. It will provide patients with convenient access to a single medical centre support including all radiation oncology diagnosis, staging and treatment requirements.
Redcliffe Hospital's medical oncology, allied health and radiation oncology consulting services will be a short distance away, offering patients access to comprehensive cancer services without the need to commute long distances between appointments.
More than 35,000 Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer each year, most commonly with prostate, melanoma and breast cancers. Modelling suggests that almost half of Australians (48.3%) diagnosed with cancer would benefit from radiation therapy.
Boost for local health services
Former cancer patient and member of GenesisCare’s Consumer Advisory Committee John Dowling, who has been actively involved in fundraising and cancer support groups in the area, says: “This is a fabulous idea for the fast-growing City of Moreton Bay. Most people don’t think about cancer until they get it, but a high-quality facility like this will give locals laying down their roots confidence in living and succeeding in the area. It will be a great boost to local health services.”
GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist and Queensland Medical Director Dr Marie Burke OAM, says: “We know that accessing care close to home can be critical for cancer patients who are faced with so many emotional, social and physical challenges.
“To have treatment locally is extraordinarily valuable. Currently many of the patients will travel to Chermside or into the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to access treatment. It will enable them to access treatment closer to home.”
The private centre will be largely subsidised by Medicare to ensure all patients have access.
“You don’t need private health insurance to access outpatient radiation oncology services and 80-90 per cent of the cost is covered by Medicare,” Dr Burke says.
“We’re very flexible with our costs so for people who are financially disadvantaged, we always take that into consideration ... if people need some fee reduction. It certainly will be available to all patients on the Peninsula.
“The philosophy in all of our Genesis Care Centres is that new patient consultations are done within a week of receiving the referrals. Patients will receive very rapid access to treatment.”
Care close to home
Federal Member for Petrie Emma Comer says: “This centre will strengthen Redcliffe’s existing healthcare infrastructure and create more comprehensive cancer services available to local patients near their homes.
“I’m really excited for patients to be able to get that care closer to home. They’re travelling a lot further than they should be.
“When someone has a cancer diagnosis, it’s a conveyor belt of appointments ... sometimes these appointments go for three hours.”
Ms Comer says this can be challenging if patients are relying on family or friends for transport.
State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne-Dooley says: “Improving access to healthcare close to one’s home is a matter I am passionate about, and I welcome the announcement of GenesisCare’s new cancer facility in Redcliffe today.
“My experience as a registered nurse and as founder of an in-home hospice care service has shown me the importance of receiving care locally, in one’s community with the comfort of family, friends and the things you cherish close by.”
Allamanni Developments Acquisitions Manager Irina Monnier says the company identified a unique opportunity to deliver a much-needed healthcare facility on the 4500m2 site.
“We were thrilled to create Altiva Health, a high-quality medical centre directly benefiting the Redcliffe community. With major tenants Qscan and GenesisCare secured, only one tenancy remains available for lease,” she says.