Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research Operating Model Review

Purpose

The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) facility represents a landmark $500 million Public–Private Partnership aiming to deliver Australia’s first proton beam therapy (PBT) centre. PBT, a cancer treatment modality, faced significant operational and financial risks due to shifting market dynamics, supply chain conditions, and technical dependencies of the synchrotron installation. The governments required an independent review to ensure the ABCPTR’s long-term viability and financial sustainability, aligning governance, funding mechanisms, and operational structures with current and forecasted market conditions.

As a result, the SA Department of Treasury and Finance working with the Australian Government Department ofHealth and Aged Care and the SA Department of Health and Wellbeing engaged HealthConsult to:

• Define an operating model for the ABCPTR that reflected current and future market conditions
• Develop a financial model and funding model that will ensure the long-term sustainability of the ABCPTR
• Investigate issues related to the delivery and installation of the synchrotron

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Approach

HealthConsult implemented a rigorous, tailored approach comprising:

• Market Intelligence & Benchmarking: Conducted detailed international benchmarking through comprehensive case studies of leading Proton Beam Therapy centres in the UK, USA, Sweden, and Germany. This provided critical insights into governance structures, operational practices, clinical integration, and workforce management relevant to the Australian healthcare context.
• Operating Model Design: Facilitated collaborative stakeholder workshops to co-design three specific operational scenarios. These scenarios included detailed governance models, optimised patient pathways, comprehensive workforce plans, and strategies for clinical integration, aligning international best practices with local operational requirements.
• Financial Modelling: Developed and stress-tested an advanced 10-year financial model incorporating Medicare tariffs, projected patient demand, vendor cost inputs, and global financial benchmarks. HealthConsult systematically evaluated funding mechanisms such as Medicare rebates, private patient fees, activity-based funding, and grant options to ensure the financial robustness and practical feasibility of implementation.

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Outcome

HealthConsult’s targeted analysis and strategic recommendations resulted in:

• Operational Model Report: Established a clear, best-practice operational framework outlining governance, workforce planning, patient care pathways, and clinical integration tailored to the Australian context.
• Dynamic Financial Model: Provided a robust, evidence-based financial model to guide strategic decision-making, underpinning the ABCPTR’s long-term operational and financial sustainability.
• Funding Model Options Paper: Delivered a detailed evaluation of viable funding mechanisms, accompanied by clear, actionable recommendations ensuring optimal financial stability and successful operational implementation.
• Business Case: Synthesising information from prior stages, the business case clearly articulated the chosen operating model, financial model, and rationale for the preferred funding option. It was structured to expedite decision-making and align with the project sponsors’ timelines.

This strategic approach underpinned critical government decisions, including with regard to the supplier’s contract, ensuring sustainable, high-quality proton therapy service provision and long-term operational and financial viability for the ABCPTR, thereby significantly advancing cancer treatment capabilities in Australia.

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Image credit: https://www.protontherapy.sahmri.org.au/about/design-construction/