The funding will allow all 44 existing McGrath Breast Care Nurse positions to continue and expand the program by 10 fulltime equivalent places, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek will announce on Saturday.
The McGrath Foundation was set up in honour of Jane McGrath, the late wife of cricket great Glenn McGrath.
Breast care nurses are specially trained registered nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women with breast cancer, their family and carers.
They work to ensure physical, psychological and basic support needs are met.
The breast care nurse program began after the government committed $12 million to the McGrath Foundation in 2008 for recruitment, training and placement of specialist nurses around Australia.
The McGrath Foundation welcomed the government’s announcement of the grant, coinciding with Jane McGrath Day.
Foundation co-founder Glenn McGrath said the foundation had worked tirelessly over the past four years to maximise every fundraising opportunity.
‘But we know there is much more work to do and the team won’t rest until we’ve seen our vision of a breast care nurse for every Australian family experiencing breast cancer,’ he said in a statement.
Source: Sky News Australia