Australian-first centre 'future of cancer care'

A new 'Centre of Excellence' aims to provide Australian cancer patients with a major leap forward in targeted treatment.

It will be the country's first healthcare facility to house the three leading precision-radiation technologies in one location.

The partnership between Icon Cancer Centre Australia and Macquarie University Health (MUH) will create a world-class hub for precision oncology, expanding access to advanced radiotherapy for patients in New South Wales and beyond.

Around 50 percent of all cancer patients require radiation oncology as part of their treatment.

"This centre represents the next chapter in Australia's stereotactic capability," Icon Group CEO Mark Middleton said.

A motion image of the CyberKnife technology

"By bringing Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and advanced linac (linear accelerator) technology together under one roof, we're creating a nationally-significant hub for precision medicine, paving the future of cancer care."

Together these technologies offer highly-targeted, less-invasive radiotherapy that can treat tumours with sub-millimetre accuracy – reducing side-effects, treatment times, and the travel burden for patients and their families.

"Icon has invested deeply in stereotactic expertise for more than a decade, from clinical leadership to innovation and research," Mr Middleton said.

"This service builds on that foundation and positions Australia at the forefront of world-class, personalised radiotherapy.

"This is more than a technology milestone. It demonstrates how integrated care and strong partnerships can bring the most advanced treatments closer to home for patients in New South Wales, and across the nation."

The Elekta Esprit Gamma Knife equipment

The new Icon Cancer Centre will be based at the MUH private teaching hospital.

Services are expected to start at the Centre of Excellence in May 2026 in a phased rollout, with the full suite of stereotactic technologies becoming available to patients over the course of this year.

This staged approach ensures a safe, coordinated transition of services, while supporting clinical teams across Icon and MUH to integrate workflows, processes, research opportunities and multidisciplinary care models.

Read more: International recognition for Icon specialists

Read more: Australian-first 'phantoms' to boost patients' peace of mind

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