Professor Georgina Long AO: ‘Our national character means we turn challenges into opportunities’

The Australian spirit is embodied by every person who has faced cancer and difficult decisions, writes Georgina Long.

What defines the Australian spirit? For me, it’s our determination, pragmatism, and a remarkable ability to create breakthrough solutions. In my years of medical research and clinical practice as a medical oncologist, I’ve tapped into this spirit to transform not just individual lives, but the very future of cancer treatment worldwide.

The Australian spirit is embodied by every person who has faced cancer and difficult decisions. Patients who have been given six to nine months to live and have the stark choice between a current standard therapy or an experimental trial. These people make the choice to participate in clinical trials and research where the outcome is unknown, hoping for a chance of life.

Perhaps there’s no better example of Australia as a “model for the world” than how we conduct clinical research. We don’t have the benefits of overwhelming resources or population size, but what we do have is an ability to innovate despite constraints.

Our national character means we turn challenges into opportunities.

The focus on melanoma research is a demonstration of how our national character means we turn challenges into opportunities.

The focus on melanoma research is a demonstration of this. In a country where the sun shapes our outdoor lifestyle, leadership in skin cancer treatment represents more than medical advancement – it shows how Australians can take what is a uniquely Australian dilemma and use our experience to inform cancer research globally. Transforming local challenges into global solutions.

We are all witnessing a paradigm shift in cancer treatment that is being driven by bold decisions and practical innovation. The success of the Australian Anti-PD1 Brain Metastases collaboration (ABC trial), a clinical trial in advanced melanoma that had spread to the brain, changed global practice overnight. This trial made combination immunotherapy the new standard of care for these patients.

The 2024 Australians of the Year Dr Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long. “We are all witnessing a paradigm shift in cancer treatment that is being driven by bold decisions and practical innovation.” Picture: George Yankovich

I had the privilege of designing and leading this trial that transformed the median survival from 16 weeks to over five years – a ‘cure’ for over 50 per cent of patients. The ABC trial emerged from the unique ability to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges through collaboration and determination.

How we approach these challenges is particularly Australian – not with bravado or fanfare, but with quiet and energised determination and innovation, working away behind the scenes. In the groundbreaking trials of therapy before surgery that I led at Melanoma Institute Australia, I’ve witnessed countless examples of my patients facing uncertain circumstances with remarkable resilience, embodying that distinctly Australian characteristic of getting on with it – no matter how daunting.

As I look to the future, I see these Australian traits becoming even more crucial. In a world facing unprecedented challenges, our ability to innovate under pressure, to collaborate effectively, and to face uncertainty with determination offers a powerful model for progress through practical action.

This is what makes me proud to be Australian – not just our achievements, but how we achieve them. Through my work, I’ve seen how our national characteristics of resilience, practical innovation, and determination create progress that extend far beyond our shores. Our success in transforming cancer care globally demonstrates that groundbreaking advances don’t require the largest populations or big budgets – they require the courage to face challenges head-on and the creativity to find new solutions.

Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long are co-directors of the Melanoma Institute. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

Being Australian means being part of a community that believes in the power of practical innovation and determined action. Whether in medical research or other fields, this is the Australian way – facing challenges with courage, finding creative solutions through collaboration, and advancing not just for our own interests but for the greater good of humanity. This is what’s worth celebrating about Australia today, and what will continue to define us in the years ahead.

Professor Georgina Long, Australian of the Year in 2024, is chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research at the University of Sydney and co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia.

Originally published as Professor Georgina Long AO: ‘Our national character means we turn challenges into opportunities’