Statement from the Chairs of My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Limited, Maurizio Marcocci, and Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Hon. Jaala Pulford

We welcome the Royal Children’s Hospital’s decision not to proceed with redundancies in the Children’s Cancer Centre.

In recent days we have worked quietly and purposefully with the Royal Children’s Hospital. In addition to the roles already funded by My Room Children’s Cancer Charity and the Children’s Cancer Foundation we have made a significant commitment to help bridge a funding gap for the positions that had been at risk of redundancy.

Through meaningful and constructive discussions, as well as the renewed offer to provide additional funding, we have now been assured that there will be continuity of care for children and their families.

Working with the Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital, we have secured a positive outcome ensuring that all previously at-risk positions will continue to be funded into the future. We’re also grateful to Penny Fowler and the Good Friday Appeal for their commitment to take on funding of the Art Therapy Program.

We value our strong partnership of over 30 years with the Royal Children’s Hospital, and we are delighted to be increasing our support in such a meaningful way.

As organisations founded by parents of children with cancer, we understand the importance of these roles and the immeasurable difference they make for the children and families our organisations support.

We sincerely thank the families that have contacted us during this recent period. It is our hope this commitment will provide much-needed certainty for the Children’s Cancer Centre staff in those roles and the parents of children with cancer who rely on their support and expertise.

End