CHILDHOOD CANCER SUPPORT for those living in Victoria
CANCER COUNCIL VICtoria
Cancer Council Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation, supporting Victorian’s of all ages who have been diagnosed with cancer.
They can connect you with professionals who are able to assist with legal issues, financial planning, small business accounting and workplace matters through their Pro Bono Program; and financial counselling services, to help you manage the cost of cancer.
Cancer Connect, a peer support program is also supported by Cancer Council Victoria.
CHALLENGE
Challenge is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children under the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening blood disease, and their families.
Challenge recognises the impact that cancer has on not only the patient, but family members too, and offers a number of therapies and programs to enrich the lives of those impacted. Services include massage therapy, art therapy, playgroups, camps, specialised programs for mums and dads and 6 hours of in-home cleaning support; in addition to, free holiday accommodation at various locations in Victoria and Queensland.
During your time at Royal Children’s Hospital, they can also support you with access to technology such as iPads and video games, art and craft activities, hairdressing services and more.
Challenge supports bereaved families with their annual remembrance day, walk and talk groups and by creating a photo book for the family.
FIGHT CANCER FOUNDATION
Fight Cancer is a not-for-profit organisation committed to helping seriously ill children and their families.
For families who are required to travel long distances to access medical treatment, Fight Cancer (in conjunction with government travel assistance schemes) can provide accommodation support in Melbourne, to reduce the expense to the family.
They also run an Education Support program out of The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, to ensure young learners can continue their education while undergoing treatment.
KOALA KIDS
Koala Kids is a volunteer driven not for profit organisation that provides small things that make a difference for children and young people from birth to 25 years, during cancer treatment in hospital and directly to them at home.
Families can join Koala Kids happy base where their details are safely stored so they can be sent monthly offers of fun activities as well as, therapeutic items like pill swallowing kits to assist children struggling with oral medication. They also provide family meals, online activities such as craft, cooking, science experiments, martial arts, exercise and sport, plus a smash chocolate birthday cake for the child with cancer and more!
Koala Kids works very closely with the Children’s Cancer Centres and the regional network of hospitals trained in multidisciplinary cancer care around Victoria plus Tasmania. The Melbourne based organisation keeps the family pantries stocked with basic groceries and child life, music and art therapists with sensory items, bubbles, novelty printed Band Aids and naso-gastric tube tapes, lollipops and lucky dips, to distract children during painful and invasive procedures and long hospital admissions.
MY ROOM CHILDREN’S CANCER CHARITY
My Room Children’s Cancer Charity is a volunteer led organisation, working together to support patients and families affected by cancer. They distribute funds raised across a number of pillars including financial and emotional support to families, as well as funding medical equipment, clinical care and research.
VERY SPECIAL KIDS
Very Special Kids are specialist palliative care providers for children and young people with life limiting conditions. They offer compassionate and tailored support to families through life, death and bereavement and their volunteers support families at home, during admissions at Very Special Kids Hospice and throughout stays at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre.
Very Special Kids provides emotional support and counselling, as well as special programs to enrich the lives of those impacted. These include school holiday programs for primary school aged siblings, activities and camps for bereaved and non-bereaved adolescent siblings and family activity days. They also offer families the opportunity to have a holiday in one of their cottages at Woodend and Bairnsdale.
Very Special Kids Hospice offers end of life care, in addition to planned and emergency respite care, child life therapy, art therapy, music therapy, physiotherapy and specialised 24-hour nursing and medical care in a relaxed, comfortable environment surrounded by gardens.
Wait, there’s more!
Check out the national charities that can also help you.