Our Supporters

Camp Quality Victoria

Camp Quality provides year-round recreational, educational and financial support programs for children living with cancer and their families. The camping and recreational programs for children with cancer, brothers and sisters, and the whole family are an opportunity to put a child’s illness aside for while and to have fun. People of all ages can participate in a range of programs including week-long camps, family weekends, parties and fun-day activities. These are all free of charge. The McDonald’s Camp Quality Puppet program is provided free of charge to primary and pre-schools. It aims to help children understand the challenges faced by children living with cancer. Camp Quality also provides financial support or emergency funding to families to help pay medical or other expenses.

Cancer In Kids Auxiliary (CIKA)

The Cancer in Kids Auxiliary was established in 1980. CIKA is made up of parents and friends who have a child affected by or have lost a child from a solid tumour. CIKA directs most of its fundraising efforts into the Children's Cancer Centre research laboratory at RCH. CIKA also raises money for equipment used in the ward and outpatients. CIKA meets monthly.

Sandra Lehrer 03 9696 9775

Email: president@cika.org.au

Website: CIKA

Canteen

CanTeen is an organisation for young people, age 12-24, living with cancer including young people with cancer and their brothers and sisters. CanTeen offers peer-support that enables young people to share experiences and to have fun. It offers resources, promotes understanding, well-being and leadership. CanTeen's mission is Supporting, developing and empowering young people living with cancer.

Member Liaison Officer (03) 9329 5288

Website: Canteen

Challenge - supporting kids with cancer

Challenge — supporting kids with cancer — provides support services to children and families living with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders, from diagnosis, through the treatment period and beyond. At the Children’s Cancer Centre, Challenge provides recreational and entertainment activities and equipment. Challenge also offers a weekly Playgroup for children between 2 and 5 at Challenge House (529 — 536 King Street, Melbourne). Challenge also provides families with camps, family activity days, parent support programs, ticketing, holiday accommodation, transport and financial help. Challenge provides care for the whole family and believes that life should be lived to the fullest.

Office (03) 9329 8474

Website: Challenge

Children's Brain Tumour Association (CBTA)

The Children's Brain Tumour Association was established in 1999 by parents of children living with, or who had died from a tumour of the brain or spinal cord. CBTA provides parent support. A members-link program enables you to meet parents and families of children living with the same illness as your child's. A newsletter is published four times per year. CBTA holds monthly support sessions and runs quarterly information sessions.

CBTA President on (03) 9437 0814

Email: rsan1105@westnet.com.au

Website: CBTA

Children's Cancer Centre Foundation Inc (CCCF)

The Children's Cancer Centre Foundation Inc (CCCF) was established in 1998 to promote, coordinate and maximise the Children's Cancer Centre's private funding resources, enabling the development and on-going operation of the Children's Cancer Centre.

Sofi Damianidis, 03 9345 4477 Email:sofi.damianidis@rch.org.au

• CCCF Donation Form (PDF 75 KB)

Friends of Ronald McDonald House

The Friends of Ronald McDonald House raise funds and organise activities to support Ronald McDonald House and the families who stay there. The Friends oversee the organisation of the Charlie Bell Annual Award. Information about the award is available from the House or your child's social worker.

Peter Bishop - (RCH) (03) 9345 6300

Website: Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia

KOALA Foundation

The Kids Oncology And Leukaemia Action Group (KOALA) was established as a voluntary group who provided support for parents and carers of children being treated for cancer. The KOALA Foundation was incorporated as a health charity in July 2005. The KOALA Foundation's goal is to financially support 'world's best practice' in the treatment and care of children with cancer in Victoria whilst providing additional support for children with cancer and their families.

Phone: (03) 9635 6685

Email: koala@koalafoundation.org.au

Website: Koala Foundation

Leukaemia Auxiliary of The Royal Children's Hospital (LARCH)

LARCH is a group of parents of children who have had leukaemia or another childhood cancer. Since it began in 1974, LARCH has raised over $2,000,000 for research into the causes and treatment of childhood cancer. LARCH welcomes new members to help achieve their aims, which include supporting ongoing research and maintaining the parent library. All parents/friends are encouraged to join and become involved in LARCH when their children have completed treatment.

Claudia McCarthy, (03) 9391 5051 

Website:  LARCH 

Leukaemia Research Fund (LRF)

This fund is dedicated to research into childhood leukaemias. The LRF is sponsored by the Medical Benefits Fund (MBF). MBF has been a major supporter of leukaemia research at RCH since 2000. The LRF is also supported by the football and sporting community of Victoria.

Michael Williamson, John Graham (03) 9528 5544

Dr. Peter Downie  (03) 9345 5652

E-mail peter.downie@rch.org.au

Make A Wish Foundation

The Make A Wish Foundation grants wishes to children and young people between four and 18 with a life-threatening illness. Children under four can apply for a Wish Gift Box. Parents and guardians are welcome to ask the Foundation for a wish for a child or young person.

383 Swan Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121

Telephone: 1800 032 260

Website:  Make A Wish Foundation

MY ROOM

MY ROOM is a large fundraising group of parents, patients and friends who support the Children's Cancer Centre. MY ROOM funds help to create a homely atmosphere in the Centre. Funds are also used to help cancer research. MY ROOM hold their annual fundraising ball in the middle of each year. To find out more about MY ROOM, and how you can support this group, please contact the Community Liaison Manager.

-e-mail : jroche@rocheholdings.com.au

or

mary.mcgowan@rch.org.au

Redkite - supporting children through cancer

Redkite (formally known as The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children) provides financial and emotional support to families who have a child with cancer and who face extra financial stress as a result of prolonged or intensive treatment. Redkite also pays for educational and special-interest tutoring to help children readjust after long periods away from school as a result of treatment. Redkite supports social work positions across both CCC sites.

Office:  (03) 9345 6422

Website: Redkite

Parents Cancer Connect

Parents of children who have completed treatment are trained by the Cancer Council and hospital staff to provide telephone support for parents of children with cancer. It sometimes helps to talk with others who have a child with a similar diagnosis or who are facing similar issues but who are not in the middle of treatment. For a referral to Parents Cancer Connect, please see your child's social worker or contact the Cancer Council on 13 11 20.

Cancer Helpline 13 11 20

Parents Cancer Connect flier (PDF 740 KB)

Download the brochure (PDF 75 KB)

Patients. Parents, Sibling and Family Education /Support Groups

Parent Education session for parents of recently disgnoised children are run regularly in the centre - please discuss with yur nurse co-ordinator.

Support Groups for patients, siblings, parents and families are held both in the hospital andin soe community agencies. If you or a member of your family arre interested in attedning a group please discuss this with your socila worker.

Social Work Department RCH: (03) 9345 6111

Social Work Department MMC: (03) 9594 2290

Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight brightens the lives of seriously ill children and their families by providing programs both in and out of hospital. Starlight aims to restore laughter and joy and to reconnect kids with their worlds. Starlight's programs include the Starlight Express Room at RCH and MMC, the Starlight Express Van, several Captain Starlights, Starlight Fun Centres and Starlight Wish Granting. Starlight's 'distractive therapies' are meant to be part of the overall care of children.

(03) 9663 3300

Website: Starlight Children's Foundation

Very Special Kids (V.S.K.)

Very Special Kids supports the families throughout their experience of caring for children with life-threatening illnesses. VSK provides a range of flexible programs and services including counselling for all members of the family, sibling support, trained volunteers who visit families in the hospital and home, family camps and activities, parents' activities, holiday accommodation, newsletters and care at Very Special Kids House, Victoria's only children's hospice and respite care centre. The VSK head office is at Malvern. There are other VSK offices in Shepparton, Traralgon, Torquay, Ballarat, Frankston, Coburg and Footscray.

Very Special Kids, 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern

Telephone: 9804 6222, Fax: 9822 1252, Free Call: 1800 888 875

Email: mail@vsk.org.au    Website: Very Special Kids