To refer a patient to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre please complete the referral form and email to
Peter Mac's referral criteria
Peter Mac prioritises referrals for highly specialised cancer care from people across the state of Victoria.
Examples include patients with sarcoma, melanoma and patients referred for other highly specialised treatment. This also includes patients suitable for assessment for a clinical trial that is only offered at Peter Mac.
This approach recognises the statewide role of Peter Mac and partner services, particularly for rare and complex cancers and complex interventions.
Patients who require a broad range of cancer services should be treated at Peter Mac if it is the closest appropriate health service to provide cancer care, based on their home address.
This aligns with the Victorian Government’s aspiration to provide Victorians with greater access to healthcare services, closer to home.
Patients who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or who have complex care needs and/or co-morbidities can also be referred for a broad range of cancer services, regardless of their home address.
Patients from Peter Mac’s local area and patients with specialised cancer care needs will be prioritised during referral triage.
Referrals may be redirected to cancer care services that are closer to the patient’s home, if this is considered in the patient’s best interests, or is necessary to ensure patients with highly specialised care needs receive the urgent care they need.
Patients who have received specialised cancer care at Peter Mac (for example for cancer diagnosis and initial therapy or have been enrolled in a clinical trial) may be appropriate for referral to a health service closer to home once that phase of care has ended.
Lead Clinicians
For your referral to be valid, it must include a named clinician. You can satisfy this requirement by naming the lead clinician of each department. These are:
Dermatology: Associate Professor Christopher McCormack
Haematology: Professor David Ritchie
Medical Oncology: Professor Linda Mileshkin
Paediatric Cancers: Dr Greg Wheeler
Plastic Surgery: Dr Angela Webb
Surgical Oncology: Professor Alexander Heriot
Radiation Oncology: Professor Sandro Porceddu
Palliative Care: Professor Brian Le
Clinical Genetics: Professor Paul James
Please also be sure to include as much clinical information, including relevant reports and diagnostic information, as possible. This will help us to assess and treat the patient as quickly as possible.
For more information on Medicare referral requirements see our Specialist Clinics funding document.
Contact details
For referral enquiries phone the Outpatient Referral Team on (03) 8559 5021.
Templates to refer a patient
Peter Mac referral templates are available within some medical software programs including Medical Director, Best Practice, ZedMed and Helix. Please complete and email to
Refer a patient - additional information
Refer a patient to a clinical trial
View our list of open recruiting trials to which you can refer a patient.
To refer a patient for a clinical trial, please complete the referral form and include:
- A request to be considered for a clinical trial
- Medical history
- Latest scans
- Blood results
- Histology
- Contact details (email and phone)
For more information, contact our clinical trials:
Radiation Oncology Services
Patient referrals can be made to our consultant Radiation Oncologists at Peter Mac sites in Melbourne, Bendigo, Box Hill, Moorabbin, and Sunshine.
We are a public hospital, meaning there are no costs for Medicare eligible patients.
Referrals are prioritised based on the patient’s medical needs. A consultation is usually scheduled with one of our Radiation Oncologists within one to two weeks of receipt of the referral.
- Refer to the Gamma Knife
- SABR: Make a booking via
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (03) 8559 8496.
Referring Medicare ineligible patients
For patients who are ineligible for Medicare, please contact our Medicare Ineligible Patient Coordinator on 03 8559 5267. This includes patients without a Medicare card and/or patients visiting from overseas.
Referring current inpatients
To refer a current hospital inpatient to us, please contact the relevant Registrar through our switchboard on 03 8559 5000. If you are unsure of which specialty to refer to, ask our switchboard to put you through to the relevant cancer stream nurse coordinator.
After accepting inpatient transfer, an interhospital patient handover form must be completed.
Refer a patient for a bone marrow biopsy
Book a bone marrow biopsy through the
- Phone: (03) 8559 5142
- Fax: (03) 8559 5519
- Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Booking must be made by the close of business, the day prior. Numbers are limited, but you should discuss urgent cases/additions to the daily list with the duty Laboratory Haematology Registrar or the access coordinator.
Minimum patient information required to refer a patient
- Patient’s full name and their Date of Birth (DOB)
- UR (Unit Record) number
- Diagnosis/clinical notes/indication for procedure
- Name of Treating Team, requesting Doctor and contact details including pager number and the primary consultant
- Notification of VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci), MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and/or any infections requiring isolation is essential
Refer a patient to psychiatry
Referrals can be made by directly contacting our Psychosocial Oncology Program on
Refer a patient to radioisotope therapy
Health practitioners can submit a referral via
Refer a patient for mainstream genetic testing through the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre
Cancer specialists can learn more about how to arrange mainstream genetic testing for a cancer patient.
Specialist tumour stream referral guidelines
Related pages
- AYA cancer services for health professionals
- Breast cancer information for health professionals
- Health Pathways
- Gamma Knife information for Clinicians
- Genitourinary Oncology