On behalf of the PCFA Online Community team, I would like to thank you for your considerable contributions to the community throughout 2020 in maintaining this online peer-supported forum. Without a doubt, this year has been incredibly challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting many prostate cancer pathways and access to resources and experts.
Despite the difficult year that we have encountered, it has been a year in which we have been able to achieve so much together. COVID presented us with problems but also provided a number of solutions and achievements - and some of those achievements include: the survivorship education webinar series (Available in the video blog section), support groups meetings via Zoom videoconferencing, Ask the Experts Webcasts on Urinary difficulties and Prostate Cancer Survivorship Essentials (Available in the video blog section), digital Ambassador presentations via Zoom, post-production of a prostate cancer podcast series with the University of Southern Queensland, the first ever Virtual Community Conversations event, the pilot of the MatesCONNECT telephone-based peer support program in WA along with the transition of the Online Community to this new and engaging platform. Transitioning the Online Community to this new platform was a mammoth effort and we appreciate everyone's patience during this time and value feedback you may have on any aspects of the community.
In closing out the year I would like to thank each and every Online Community member for their contribution and feedback on improving practice throughout the year. So much has been achieved this year that will change the way of how we interact in our communities in the future. This pivot to online will also benefit men and their families affected by prostate cancer well into the future with PCFA education and engagement of the community. I look forward to supporting everyone in the PCFA Online Community in 2021.
My best wishes to you and your loved ones this festive season. Stay safe. Merry Christmas!
[ During the Christmas break, please direct all enquiries to onlinecommunity@pcfa.org.au ]
Kind regards
Christopher McNamara
Head of Community Services / Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
Read more...