The scope of the WAKMAS committee is to provide comprehensive advice regarding the management of complex, advanced and metastatic melanoma. This includes the adequacy of surgical margins of excision for primary melanomas, the role for further investigations and staging (including sentinel node biopsy and PET scanning), the need for adjuvant therapy and information regarding prognosis.
How to Make a Referral
Please print and complete the below PDF form.
- Email to [email protected]
- Fax to 08 6151 1032
- Send via HealthLink to HealthLink ID: wakmashp
Note: All referrals should have relevant pathology attached.
Nursing staff are able to assist with any enquiries via phone (08 6151 0860) or email ([email protected])
Who is able to be referred?
Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of melanoma after biopsy of the lesion that is greater than or equal to 0.8mm or alternatively has a nomogram risk >5% are eligible to be reviewed/ discussed at WAKMAS. The nomogram risk is calculated using the MIA calculator for melanomas >0.8mm. Melanoma Risk Assessment Tool
Patients with thin melanomas < 0.8mm without complications or unfavourable characteristics are not routinely reviewed at WAKMAS unless there is a specific request that has been discussed with the medical director. This may include melanomas that are in cosmetically sensitive areas or areas difficult to treat by non-specialists.
What does the service offer my patient?
A comprehensive review of the patient’s pathology and other investigations (as required) are completed prior to the patient attending an appointment. Some appointments are arranged internally at WAKMAS where patients are examined by a small multi-disciplinary panel of specialists in a non-threatening environment.
Other appointments are arranged externally; this may be with a WAKMAS affiliated private clinician or through the public health system. Patients’ immediate family or a close friend is welcome to attend appointments.
Following the appointment and the subsequent discussion of the patient at the multi-disciplinary meeting, the opinions and recommendations of the team are communicated back to the referring doctor.
Patients are not charged for this initial service.
Can I remain involved in my patient's management?
WAKMAS is primarily an advisory service. However, through its extensive panel of melanoma specialists, patients may be offered the option of receiving definitive medical and/or surgical treatment from clinicians affiliated with WAKMAS, either within the private sector or through the public health system.
Where appropriate, the referring clinician may continue to manage their patient’s melanoma with advisory input from WAKMAS. Referring doctors are kept informed of recommendations, decisions and any treatments undertaken through the WAKMAS service to ensure continuity of care.
What melanoma events are available for professionals?
AMC 2026 would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, seas, waterways and skies on which we live, work and play. We would like to pay our respects to elders past and present.
Professional Resources
WAKMAS Quick Reference Guide
A quick reference guide for health professionals that explains WAKMAS, what services it offers and how to refer patients
WAKMAS Information for Medical Practitioners
A 28-page summary of WAKMAS services and its recommended primary and metastatic melanoma management and therapies for treatment and surveillance.
Understanding a Melanoma Pathology Report
A pamphlet to help you read your melanoma pathology report and answer questions you may have on it.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma
A guide to explain what this type of biopsy is, what happens during the procedure and what potential side effects might be.
Melanoma Institute Australia
Australian peak body that has as its mission to help reach zero deaths from melanoma, includes patient guides for every stage of melanoma and latest clinical insights.
Consensus Ultrasound Surveillance Protocal
WAKMAS consensus on the ultrasound surveillance protocol after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma to better inform health professionals
Cancer Council Clinical Practice Guidelines
Clinical practice guidelines bring together the best available evidence to inform recommendations for the prevention and diagnosis of disease and treatment for the care of patients.
Critical Review of Melanoma Pathology Reports
To assess concordance between the histopathological reports of referring pathologists and those of pathologists reviewing the cases for the Western Australia Melanoma Advisory Service.
Factors affecting Breslow thickness
A research letter on factors affecting Breslow thickness which has the results form a survey of 114 Western Australian patients with thicker melanoma.
Juvenile Melanomas: Original Research
Juvenile melanoma is a rare condition with poorly defined risk factors. The research title is called Juvenile Melanomas, a Western Australian Melanoma Advisory Service Experience.
Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials
Australia based organisation that works collaboratively with world-leading researchers to deliver clinical trials that improve melanoma and skin cancer outcomes.
Melanoma: A new strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality
The objective of this study is to prioritise risk factors associated with malignant melanoma (MM) to improve public awareness using data from 2004 to 2010.
Primary Dermal Melanoma
The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical, histological and selected molecular features of these primary dermal melanoma lesions in a West Australian cohort.
Western Australia Melanoma Initiative (WAMI)
WAMI was initiated in 2021 to bring consumers, medical professionals and researchers working on melanoma together to enhance research that will benefit patients.
Cancer Council WA Supportive Care
From the WAKMAS 2025 GP event, Cancer Council WA talks about the supportive care they provide through accomodation and support services, cancer support and education.
Live Melanoma Biobanking (Nilsson 2021)
Professor Jonas Nilsson gave a talk on the importance of live melanoma biobanking when developing new therapies for metastatic melanoma at the 2021 WAKMAS GP education event.
Neoadjuvant Therapy (Grover 2025)
From the 2025 WAKMAS GP event, Dr. Piyush Grover shared on the current landscape of neoadjuvant therapy for melanoma.
Patient Journey (Young 2025)
At the 2025 WAKMAS GP Conference, the WAKMAS nurse coordinator, Rebecca Young, shared about the patient journey through WAKMAS.
Sinonasal Melanoma (Flukes 2025)
At the WAKMAS 2025 GP conference, Dr. Stephanie Flukes presented on diagnosis and treatment of sinonasal melanoma.
Surgical Management of Primary Melanoma (Owen 2021)
Dr. Robert Owen gave a talk on the surgical management of primary melanoma in the era of adjuvent treatment at the 2021 WAKMAS General Practice Education event.
The Suspicious Skin Lesion (Tan 2021)
Dr. Ernest Tan gave a talk on suspicious skin lesions to help GPs better diagnose melanoma at the 2021 WAKMAS General Practice Eduction event.
Uveal Melanoma (Lam 2025)
From the WAKMAS 2025 GP Event, Dr. Jon Lam spoke on seeing the whole picture about vitreoretinal oncology in a multidisciplinary era. Note: Large file (20MB)
Vulvo Vaginal Melanoma (Salfinger 2025)
From the 2025 WAKMAS GP conference, Dr. Stuart Salfinger spoke on Vulvo Vaginal Melanoma.