The Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are a framework for the delivery of consistent, safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care for people with cancer. Covering every step from prevention and early detection through to recovery, living with a chronic disease, or end-of-life-care, they aim to improve patient outcomes through promoting quality cancer care and ensuring that all people diagnosed with cancer receive the best care, irrespective of where they live or receive cancer treatment.
The Optimal Care Pathways can guide, support and inform increased collaboration, more effective care, improved healthcare provider–patient communication and patient experience.
For guidance on developing an Optimal Care Pathway please email OCPs@canceraustralia.gov.au.
Access the Optimal Care Pathways
Leukaemia Foundation, supported by the Australian Government have recently developed Optimal Care Pathways, Quick Reference Guides and Guides to Best Cancer Care for 6 blood cancers: children, adolescents and young adults with acute leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, low-grade lymphomas, myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma.
Cancer Council Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government, has undertaken work to refresh the Optimal Care Pathways, Quick Reference Guides and Guides to Best Cancer Care (formerly named the What to Expect Guides) for 15 cancer types (2nd edition).
The 2nd edition of the Optimal Care Pathways, Quick Reference Guides and Guides to Best Cancer Care for cancer of unknown primary, cervical cancer and sarcoma are currently in progress.
The Optimal Care Pathways are available in their full version or as a Quick Reference Guide.
Browse the Optimal Care Pathways
Acute leukaemia in children, adolescents and young adults [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
1.6 MB
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
507.2 KB
Acute myeloid leukaemia [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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423.2 KB
AL amyloidosis [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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739.1 KB
Breast cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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438.6 KB
Cancer of unknown primary [January 2020]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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348.1 KB
Cervical cancer [January 2020]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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251.3 KB
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
1.3 MB
Chronic myeloid leukaemia [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
1.3 MB
Colorectal cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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439.7 KB
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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498.1 KB
Endometrial cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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409.7 KB
Head and neck cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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414.1 KB
Hepatocellular carcinoma [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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401 KB
High-grade glioma [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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407 KB
Hodgkin and diffuse large B cell lymphoma [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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413.7 KB
Keratinocyte cancer (basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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419.2 KB
Low-grade lymphomas [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
1.3 MB
Lung cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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550.5 KB
Melanoma [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
410.9 KB
Multiple myeloma [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
1.3 MB
Myelodysplastic syndrome [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
1.2 MB
Myeloproliferative neoplasms [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
455.6 KB
Neuroendocrine tumours [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
482.7 KB
Oesophagogastric cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
417 KB
Ovarian cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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410.4 KB
Pancreatic cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
410.9 KB
Prostate cancer [2nd edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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425.2 KB
Sarcoma (bone & soft tissue tumours) [January 2020]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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256.2 KB
Waldenström’s Macroglobulinaemia [1st edition]
Optimal Care Pathway
Published date:
12 March 2026
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507.1 KB
Browse the Quick Reference Guides
These resources can be used as quick guides. Based on the full Optimal Care Pathways, they provide a summary for different cancer types.
Acute leukaemia in children, adolescents and young adults [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
131.1 KB
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
86.2 KB
Acute myeloid leukaemia [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
85.1 KB
AL amyloidosis [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
87.2 KB
Breast cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
85 KB
Cancer of unknown primary [January 2020]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
70.2 KB
Cervical cancer [January 2020]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Size:
69.4 KB
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
131.6 KB
Chronic myeloid leukaemia [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
123.7 KB
Colorectal cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
87.6 KB
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
86.1 KB
Endometrial cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
83.4 KB
Head and neck cancers [2nd edition] - Quick reference guide
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
83.6 KB
Hepatocellular carcinoma [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
83.6 KB
High-grade glioma [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
84.1 KB
Hodgkin and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
83.6 KB
Keratinocyte cancer (basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
85.9 KB
Low-grade lymphomas [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
124.6 KB
Lung cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
95.7 KB
Melanoma [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
85 KB
Multiple myeloma [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
130.9 KB
Myelodysplastic syndrome [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
124.5 KB
Myeloproliferative neoplasms [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
85.2 KB
Neuroendocrine tumours [June 2022]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
91.6 KB
Oesophagogastric cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
86.5 KB
Ovarian cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
82.5 KB
Pancreatic cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
83.4 KB
Prostate cancer [2nd edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
84.6 KB
Sarcoma [January 2020]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
69.4 KB
Waldenström’s Macroglobulinaemia [1st edition]
Quick Reference Guide
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
86.5 KB
Downloadable information for your patients
Guides to Best Cancer Care
These short guides are a summary version of the Optimal Care Pathways. They help patients, carers and families understand the optimal cancer care that should be provided from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. They include optimal time frames within which tests or procedures should be completed, prompt lists to support patients to understand what might happen at each step of their cancer experience and to consider what questions to ask, and provide information to help patients and carers communicate with health professionals.
Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
This Optimal Care Pathway complements the best practice information provided in the cancer-specific pathways to facilitate the delivery of culturally safe and competent care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It outlines the aspects of the cancer care pathway that need to be responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. It is also available as a Quick Reference Guide.
Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
Download the PDF
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
1.8 MB
Quick reference guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
Download the PDF
Published date:
12 March 2026
Formats:
Size:
127.4 KB
Optimal Care Pathway for adolescents and young adults with cancer
For general practitioners and practice managers
To support you, your practice, and your patients, you can:
- Refer newly diagnosed cancer patients to the Guides to Best Cancer Care and print and provide them with a copy of the relevant cancer type consumer guides.
- Import the GP Quick Reference Guides and Guides to Best Cancer Care for patients and carers into you GP software.
For more information regarding the Optimal Care Pathways, or to send feedback, please email OCPs@canceraustralia.gov.au
A national approach to development of Optimal Care Pathways
The Optimal Care Pathways have Australia-wide acceptance and government support and are being implemented nationally.
As the number of Optimal Care Pathways continues to grow, consistency and quality are paramount to maintaining the integrity of the suite of resources. To support a national approach to the development and review of nationally endorsed Optimal Care Pathways, a toolkit has been developed. In this toolkit you will find:
- An overview of the Optimal Care Pathways, Quick Reference Guides and Guides to Best Cancer Care
- Recommended governance structure to support development and review of Optimal Care Pathways
- Guidelines to develop and review Optimal Care Pathways
- A Style Guide to ensure consistency across all Optimal Care Pathway resources is maintained
- Templates to support development, consultation and submission for national endorsement
- Key messaging and a presentation to support awareness and promotion
The Optimal Care Pathway, Quick Reference Guide and Guide to Best Cancer Care templates are also available. These templates should be used when developing a new resource and when reviewing an existing resource.
Access the Optimal Care Pathways toolkit.
The Optimal Care Pathways web application
Access the Optimal Care Pathways in an interactive web app on your mobile or your desktop.
The Optimal Care Pathways interactive web app is supported by the Victorian Government.