Each ITONF Subcommittee has its own Terms of Reference & Workplan
Communications Sub-Committee: To disseminate and share current and relevant thoracic oncology information, recognise and promote individual or group achievements related to thoracic oncology nursing, and to encourage active participation of the thoracic oncology nursing community.
Melanie Rabbets (AUS)
Communications Lead
Melanie is a Thoracic Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant at The Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Melanie completed a Masters Degree as Nurse Practitioner in 2020. Melanie has worked in oncology for 18 years, first as a chemotherapy nurse and currently as a nurse consultant. Melanie is interested in all areas of supportive care, with a focus on patient and carer education. Melanie believes that although she cannot alter a patient’s outcome, she can help smooth the path. She aims to learn something new every day and has continued learning and professional development throughout her career. Melanie is a member of Australia and New Zealand Lung Cancer Nurses Forum (ANZ-LCNF), Thoracic Oncology Group Australia (TOGA), American Society Clinical Oncology (ASCO), International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). She has participated in national and international webinars and conferences to share knowledge with and build capacity in lung cancer nurses.
Kate Slaven (UK)
Communications Subcommittee Member
Kate’s first job as a qualified nurse was on an oncology ward – she loved it. That was a long time ago but she has stayed within that field for her entire career. She has experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, Specialist Palliative Care and Oncology Nursing working in England and Scotland. Having worked in the different environments of medical oncology, radiotherapy, surgery, haematology, day units and clinics in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, she has now found a place to focus. Her current post is as Clinical Nurse Specialist in lung cancer and mesothelioma at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England. She is also one of the Mesothelioma UK Specialist Nurses and covers the East of England. Kate is active in the field of research with particular focus on qualitative studies to explore patient experience and advocacy issues. Her current study explores the impact of cough on quality of life in patients with mesothelioma. She has completed Master of Science in Advanced Nursing Practice (distinction).
