Chris Scott, chair of GICS will also present the GICS 2009 annual report which reflects on GICS achievements for the past year.

GICS was created in 2004 by the Victorian Government to work within the Grampians Region in partnership with existing providers of cancer services to initiate change and service improvement that will directly benefit survivors, carers and consumers, of those services.

Dr Stephen Vaughan, director of GICS said this is being achieved through the provision of system development and service improvement by supporting local and regional services and importantly by community consultation.

''This is part of an ongoing process. The most important aspect is that we listen to the very people who have experience of cancer services to learn from their personal cancer journeys.

''This information will assist the State Government develop ongoing planning to help with cancer service delivery in the region,'' Dr Vaughan said.

Following GICS annual forum, regional forums will be established throughout the Grampians region where survivors, carers and consumers of cancer services will be invited to share their stories to contribute to the planning of cancer services within the region.

Professor Tony Love from the University of Ballarat will be presenting at the forum along with health consultant Sheila Hirst and local consumer advocate Colleen Thompson.

Sheila Hirst was influential in developing the Victorian State Government Policy and Framework for Supportive Care, which GICS will be implementing throughout the region.

Colleen Thompson is a well known local consumer advocate who, through personal experience of close family members having had cancer, is passionate about reaching as many people as possible who have cancer to provide support and give them a voice through their own journeys.