Senator McCarthy said that Cancer Australia's Supporting people with cancer grants will fund locally-based programs to make a much needed difference in regional and remote Indigenous Australian communities.
"These grants are a step in the right direction to improve wellbeing, provide support and increase equitable cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."
"The grants will help dedicated organisations around the country deliver lifechanging services and care for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians living with cancer."
"The Albanese Labor Government is focused on improving lives and addressing disparities, including for remote communities and Indigenous Australians."
Cancer Australia CEO Professor Dorothy Keefe congratulated the successful 2022 grant recipients and said, "These grants encourage effective partnerships among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and community organisations to build innovative, coordinated and sustainable approaches to cancer support."
The additional six grants will fund a range of community organisations to support people affected by cancer around Australia. The nine grant recipients are:
Strong Spirit Aboriginal Services – Birpai Nation, Hastings LGA NSW
- The Strong Spirit Cancer Journey project will deliver activities to improve participants' mental health and wellbeing and to connect participants socially. The project will serve the community in Birpai Nation, Hastings local government area in New South Wales.
Viney Morgan Aboriginal Medical Service – Regional QLD, NSW & VIC
- I WILL Exercise Physiology Oncology and Wellness Program will deliver an evidence-based exercise oncology and wellness program to promote awareness for cancer screening and adjuvant treatment options for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people affected by or at risk of developing cancer.
Cancer Council of the Northern Territory – NT
- The Rural Support Services Cancer Unit project will provide one on one support to rural and remote clients through diagnosis and treatment and deliver oncology prevention and cancer screening education to the Katherine and Central Australian region, with a focus on Indigenous people and youth.
Canteen Australia – National
- Parenting through cancer: Co-creating an online parenting program building psychological wellbeing and parenting strategies for parents of children and adolescents with cancer.
The Abbie Basson Sarcoma Foundation Ltd – National
- SUN-SHINE: Co-design of sarcoma specific digital consumer resources for people diagnosed with sarcoma and their carers.
Reflections Through Reality Ltd (Reflections) – WA
- The Hope Companion Project will develop and distribute resource toolkits including online and multimedia versions and assist mesothelioma patients' understanding and navigation of existing support and advice on mesothelioma in regional and rural communities in Western Australia.
Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation – WA
- The Back on Track WA project will ensure children who go through cancer treatment do not fall through the cracks with their education and make the relationship with the parents, teachers, and the education department more focused on the child's needs during treatment.
St John Ambulance – Tasmania
- The St John Cancer Treatment Support – Transport project aims to alleviate transport barriers faced by people with cancer, focusing on patients without the means to attend essential cancer treatments and related medical services.
Redkite – National
- The Clinical guidelines, quality and outcomes measure for new services delivery framework for paediatric cancer psychosocial support project, aims to transform psychosocial support for children with cancer and their families in Australia by implementing a new service delivery framework.
The Supporting people with cancer grant initiative is an annual, national, competitive grant program that aims to support people affected by cancer through the provision of grants to community organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Since its inception in 2005, 129 grants totalling $10.5 million have been funded through this initiative, with funded projects attracting over $8 million in contributions from grant recipients and served communities.
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