If you are supporting students, parents or colleagues affected by cancer, you are not alone. Cancer Council can provide information and support, and can point you in the right direction for more specialised assistance. We list many different organisations that can help your school community.
Learn more about:
- Support from Cancer Council
- School support services
- Non-for-profit support organisations
- Online cancer information
- Workplace relations
- Education bodies
- Fundraising options
Support from Cancer Council
Cancer Council offers a range of services to support people affected by cancer, their families and friends.
Cancer Council 13 11 20 – This is many people’s first point of contact if they have a cancer-related question. Trained professionals will answer any questions you have about the situation in your school community.
Practical help – Your local Cancer Council can help people access services or advice to manage the practical impact of a cancer diagnosis. This may include access to transport and accommodation, practical assistance in the home (short-term cleaning, gardening, childminding), or legal and financial support.
Support services – It can be helpful to share experiences with other people affected by cancer. Some people join a support group. Others prefer to talk to a trained volunteer who has had a similar cancer experience. Cancer Council can link people together by phone, in person (Cancer Connect) or through the Cancer Council Online Community. Call 13 11 20 to find out what services are available in your area.
Life after cancer – It’s natural to feel a bit lost after finishing treatment. Cancer Council can provide support and information to people adjusting to life after cancer – call 13 11 20 for details.
Printed, online and audiovisual resources – Cancer Council produces easy-to-read booklets and fact sheets on more than 20 types of cancer, as well as treatment, emotional issues and recovery. All publications are developed in consultation with health professionals and consumers, and content is reviewed regularly.
School support services
Schools can access support from several different areas, including:
- student wellbeing teams
- learning and support teams
- school psychologists or counsellors
- pastoral care teams
- learning and engagement officers or special education teams
- staff wellbeing officers
- health resources from your school’s education authority
- local support networks through your school’s education authority.
Non-for-profit support organisations
| Camp Quality provides programs and services to develop life skills and strengthen the wellbeing of children aged 0–13 growing up with cancer, and their families | 1300 662 267 campquality.org.au |
| Cancer Council provides a wide range of support and information services for people affected by cancer | 13 11 20 cancercouncil.com.au |
| CanTeen supports young people aged 12–24 living with cancer, their parents, siblings and friends | 1800 226 833 canteen.org.au |
| Carer Gateway national service providing practical information and resources for carers and links with local support services | 1800 422 737 carergateway.gov.au |
| Leukaemia Foundation offers free services to support people with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders, and their families | 1800 620 420 leukaemia.org.au |
| Make-A-Wish Australia grants wishes to young people with a life-threatening illness | 1800 032 260 makeawish.org.au |
| Redkite offers financial, emotional and educational support for children and young people aged 0–24 with cancer, as well as their families and networks | 1800 REDKITE (1800 733 548) redkite.org.au |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia provides a learning program for young people whose education has been disrupted by a serious illness, professional development for teachers, and accommodation services | 1300 307 642 rmhc.org.au |
| Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia supports seriously ill children by providing in-hospital programs, granting wishes and organising family escapes | 1300 727 827 starlight.org.au |
| Work After Cancer provides information about working during cancer treatment and returning to work after treatment | workaftercancer.com.au |
| Young Carers works with the carers association in each state and territory to provide information, support and counselling for people under 26 who care for a family member with a serious illness | 1800 242 636 youngcarers.net.au |
Online cancer information
| Cancer Council information clinically reviewed information about cancer by topic and by type; PDFs and ebooks of Understanding Cancer booklets and fact sheets; links to local support groups, programs and services |
| Cancer Australia Children’s Cancer information about children’s cancer by type, how to find clinical trials, and guidance about what to expect once treatment is finished from the Australian Government’s cancer control agency |
| Cancer Advisor moderated by Redkite, provides links to reliable information resources about children’s cancer, support services and a place for people to share their experiences |
| Victorian Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS) information about diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer, finishing treatment, and survivorship |
| Youth Cancer Services information about cancer, hospital-based cancer treatment and support services for young people aged 15–25 |
| Macmillan Cancer Support information about many aspects of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment from the leading United Kingdom cancer charity |
| American Cancer Society detailed information about cancer types and topics from the largest voluntary health organisation in the United States |
Workplace relations
| Fair Work Ombudsman information and advice about Australia’s workplace rights and rules, including awards, entitlements and national employment standards | 13 13 94 fairwork.gov.au |
| Australian Human Rights Commission information and advice about Australia’s discrimination legislation and disability standards; investigates complaints about discrimination | 1300 656 419humanrights.gov.au |
| Cancer Council articles, fact sheets and booklets about cancer and work for workplaces, employers and employees | 13 11 20 cancercouncil.com.au |
Education bodies
Fundraising options
| Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Every May, more than a million Australians come together at school, work, home and in their community to donate money for cups of tea and coffee. Cancer Council uses this money for cancer research and to support those affected by cancer. | 1300 65 65 85 biggestmorningtea.com.au |
| Daffodil Day The daffodil is a sign of hope, and Daffodil Day is a day to remember people touched by cancer, celebrate survivorship, hope for a brighter future and raise money to fight cancer. Daffodil Day is held by Cancer Council every August. | 1300 65 65 85 daffodilday.com.au |
| Hospital fundraisers Many hospitals coordinate fundraising events that support them directly. | Contact your local children’s hospital (or general hospital providing cancer treatment) |
| National Bandanna Day Organised by CanTeen, this event sells bandannas as a symbol of cancer’s impact on young people. It is held each year in October. | 1800 226 833 canteen.org.au/bandanna-day |
| Girls’ Night In Girls’ Night In is a fun, simple way for women to raise funds and awareness for women’s cancer research, prevention programs and support services while getting together with friends. | 1300 65 65 85 girlsnightin.com.au |
| Relay For Life Relay For Life is a fun, outdoor community event where teams of 10–15 people take turns walking or running around a local oval or school campus to raise funds for Cancer Council. | 1300 65 65 85 relayforlife.org.au |
| Starlight Day Each May, the Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia holds a fundraiser for children and families who live with a serious disease and need to stay in hospital. | 1300 727 827 starlight.org.au |
→ READ MORE: Sample letters for schools
More resources
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Talking to Kids About Cancer
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Talking to Kids About Cancer ebook
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Caring for Someone with Cancer
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Caring for Someone with Cancer ebook
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Emotions and Cancer
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Emotions and Cancer ebook
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Cancer, Work & You
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Cancer, Work & You ebook
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Claire Tobin, Principal Medical Advisor, Department of Education and Training, VIC; Dr Antoinette Anazodo, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, Director of The Sydney Youth Cancer Service, and Conjoint Senior Researcher, University of New South Wales, NSW; Lisa Barrow, Clinical Nurse Educator, Children’s Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC; Margo Bulic, Psychosocial Support Worker, CanTeen, ACT; Amber Copeland, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland; Donna Drew, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Paediatric Oncology/Palliative Care, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW; Allesha Fecondo, Education Consultant, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, and Education Liaison, Ronald McDonald Learning Program, Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, VIC; John Friedsam, General Manager of Divisions, CanTeen Australia, NSW; Pina Hutcheson, President, Catholic Primary Principals’ Association of WA; Cara Irvine, Year 8 Coordinator, Alfred Deakin High School, ACT; Andrew Long, Assistant Director, Policy and Research, Independent Schools Council of Australia, ACT; Dr Alistair Lum, Post-doctoral Research Fellow – Behavioural Sciences Unit, Sydney Children’s Hospital, University of New South Wales, NSW; Kristine Luszczynski, Learning Program Manager, Quality and Standards, Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, NSW; Anita Neville, National Manager, Ronald McDonald Learning Program, Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, VIC; NSW Department of Education, NSW; Mandy Roney, Consumer; Shannon Rush, Primary School Program Manager, Camp Quality, SA; Luke Wade, Education and Career Support Consultant, Redkite, QLD.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.