• Medical Emergency: Call 000
  • Albury Wodonga NSW/ VIC

About

A/Prof Christopher Steer

, MBBS, FRACP

Medical Oncologist · Clinical Haematology · Geriatric Oncology · Gynaecological Oncology · Researcher

Overview

Clinical Background

A/Prof Christopher Steer brings more than 30 years of experience in medical oncology and clinical haematology. He completed his MBBS at the University of Melbourne in 1991 and was awarded his FRACP in 2000. He undertook a prestigious fellowship in medical oncology and haematology at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital and King’s College London (2000–2003), where he developed subspecialty expertise in geriatric oncology and cancer of unknown primary.

After this time, Dr Steer returned to the Albury Wodonga region where he has built an internationally recognised programme in geriatric oncology and regional cancer care.

Trusted Expertise in Oncology, Clinical Haematology & Geriatric Care

A/Prof Steer's research has informed policy and improvements in health programmes at local, national, and international levels.

Current Positions

Appointments

Albury Wodonga Private Hospital

Visiting Medical Officer
Medical Oncologist

Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre

Staff Specialist in Medical Oncology - Albury Wodonga Health
Consultant Medical Oncologist

UNSW School of Clinical Medicine

Associate Professor
ILP and Honours Coordinator
Rural Clinical Campus, Albury

La Trobe University

Adjunct Professor
John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing
Research
Wodonga Campus

Border Medical Oncology Research Unit

Director & Principal Investigator

North East Health Wangaratta

Visiting Medical Officer
Medical Oncologist

Research & Leadership

Active Grants & Roles

MRFF $18.5M

ReVitalise / RTN-Vic — Clinical Trial Infrastructure Fund

Clinical Lead • Including Geriatric Oncology Initiative ($2.7M)

MRFF $1.5M

Delivering Better Care for Older Australians with Cancer

Co-Chief Investigator • Clinician Researchers Applied Research Grant 2023

COSA $196K

Optimal Care Pathway for Older People with Cancer

Co-Chair, COSA Project Steering Group • 2025

MRFF $2.4M

SUPER-ED: Earlier Diagnosis for Cancer of Unknown Primary

Associate Investigator • Stepped-wedge cluster RCT

UNSW Profile

La Trobe Profile

LinkedIn

Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Author on over 50 peer-reviewed articles. Editorial Board: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, Editor: Geriatric Oncology Section - Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care

2026

Defining and addressing loneliness in older adults with cancer — international Delphi consensus

The Lancet Healthy Longevity Soto-Perez-de-Celis, ... Steer C, Aapro M

2026

Geriatric oncology in 2040: Exploring potential realities and challenges

Journal of Geriatric Oncology • Gardner R, ... Steer C et al.

2025

Whole genome sequencing improves tissue-of-origin diagnosis for cancer of unknown primary

Nature Communications • Rebello RJ, ... Steer C, ... Mileshkin L, Tothill RW

2025

SUPER-ED trial: stepped-wedge cluster RCT for malignancy of undefined primary origin

BMC Cancer • Ugalde A, ... Steer C et al.

View Full Publication List ORCID

2026

Additional publication title 1

The Lancet Healthy Longevity Soto-Perez-de-Celis, ... Steer C, Aapro M

2026

Additional publication title 2

Journal of Geriatric Oncology • Gardner R, ... Steer C et al.

2025

Additional publication title 3

Nature Communications • Rebello RJ, ... Steer C, ... Mileshkin L, Tothill RW

2025

Additional publication title 4

BMC Cancer • Ugalde A, ... Steer C et al.

Advocacy

Shaping Cancer Care in Australia​

Leadership, policy advocacy, and research to improve cancer outcomes nationally and internationally.

National & International Leadership Roles

  • PCPA — President, Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (representing private oncologists nationally since 2016)
  • COSA — Board Member, Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (2022–present) Co-Chair Optimal Care Pathway for Older People with Cancer Project Steering Committee 
  • MOGA — Chair, Oncology Drugs Working Group (former board member, Medical Oncology Group of Australia)
  • ASCO — Annual Meeting Education Program Committee — Symptom Science & Palliative Care
  • ESMO / SIOG — Cancer in the Elderly Working Group Member CARG – Cancer and Aging Research Group (USA) Member of Clinical Implementation Core

Key Advocacy & Policy Areas

Bridging Funding Coalition
Advocating for an interim drug fund prior to PBS listing, improving patient access to new cancer therapies.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Reform
Former member of the DOH Implementation Liaison Group for introduction of chemotherapy item number 13950 (MBS Review Taskforce 2019–2020).
Optimal Care Pathway — Older Australians with Cancer
Co-leading creation of the national OCP informing standards for all older adults diagnosed with cancer in Australia (Australian Cancer Plan).
Regional Cancer Care
Clinical lead of the $18.5M RTN-Vic ReVitalise programme, expanding access to clinical trials and new models of care across regional Victoria.

How Our Research Changes Practice

Associate Professor Steer’s research in geriatric oncology has directly informed improvements in care delivery at local, national, and international levels — from routine geriatric screening tools adopted across Regional Victoria to national policy recommendations within the Australian Cancer Plan.
  • Survey of Australian Oncology Practice
    Informed education, advocacy, and improvements in care delivery for older adults with cancer nationally (PMID: 30041979)
  • International Policy Influence
    Engagement in international research helps inform global cancer care policy. International Policy Development. Priorities for the global advancement of care for older adults with cancer: an update for the International Society of Geriatric Oncology Priorities Initative.
    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30473-3/abstract
    Presentation at SIOG-IFA Summit United Nations Geneva November 2019
  • New Models of Care
    Electronic geriatric assessment integrated as standard practice at AWRCC and across RTN-VIC network sites

In the event of a medical emergency, please call 000

  • Medical Emergency: Call 000
  • Albury Wodonga NSW/ VIC