Pre-budget submission seeking Commonwealth investment to establish Australia’s first External Facial Prosthetic Funding Scheme

In January, Head and Neck Cancer Australia submitted a pre-budget submission seeking Commonwealth investment to establish Australia’s first External Facial Prosthetic Funding Scheme. The initiative aimed to deliver nationally consistent, equitable access to high-quality external facial prosthetics for people requiring reconstructive rehabilitation following disfiguring, life-saving surgery for advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

More than 5,600 Australians are diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer each year, and over 17,000 people diagnosed in the past five years are living with long-term treatment impacts. Despite the significant physical, psychosocial and economic consequences of facial disfigurement, Australia currently has no national program to support access to custom-made external facial prosthetics—unlike existing breast or limb prosthesis programs. As a result, approximately 300 Australians each year face prohibitive out-of-pocket costs for essential prosthetics that restore function, dignity and quality of life.
Critically, the need for reform has been independently reinforced.

In 2025, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing commissioned KPMG to undertake an Independent Review of Cancer Prostheses in Australia, which confirmed major system gaps affecting people requiring external facial prosthetics, including the absence of national funding, lack of workforce accreditation, inconsistent clinical pathways, and inequitable access for vulnerable populations. These findings directly align with the issues addressed in this proposal and underscore the need for coordinated Commonwealth action.

Our proposal sets out a Commonwealth-funded, nationally administered scheme that delivers:

• Equitable access to new and replacement custom-made external facial prosthetics
• A nationally recognised workforce accreditation process
• A comprehensive training pathway to ensure consistent, safe, high-quality practice
• Clear referral pathways, governance frameworks, and ICT infrastructure
• Direct provider reimbursement to ensure affordability for priority populations

The Scheme aligns strongly with the objectives of the Australian Cancer Plan, particularly in reducing inequities, improving outcomes for priority populations, and strengthening capability and safety across the cancer care workforce.

Developed in collaboration with leading clinicians, prosthetic specialists and consumers across Australia, the proposal reflects both clinical expertise and lived experience.

HANCA proposes a four-year Commonwealth investment of $25.13 million, with Year 1 focused on design and establishment and Years 2–4 dedicated to phased national rollout, supporting both new and legacy patients. By Year 5, the Scheme reaches a steady-state, cost-effective operating profile.

Read the submission 29 January 2026

Read the Independent review of cancer prostheses equity in Australia Final Review Report