While much of our funding is directed towards research to develop new and better cancer treatments, the warm beating heart of the Foundation lies within our clinical care and psychosocial projects, which provide support for the psychological and emotional distress of children with cancer.
Since 1992 we have funded the salaries of medical consultants, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, play therapists, art therapists, music therapists, psychologists, mental health clinicians, neuropsychologists, and many more to ensure the best possible outcome for children with cancer.
The Beaded Journey is designed to tell the story of each child’s unique and personal journey. It allows children to chronicle each milestone and significant procedure throughout their cancer treatment with a different coloured and themed bead. Colourful beads represent the many points both medical and non-medical, along the treatment path.
The Foundation has funded The Beaded Journey since 2008. Thanks to the generous support of the Lillies for Hope Special Named Fund, we are able to continue funding the program until 2024.
We are incredibly honoured to be funding The Beaded Journey. It is a program that is very close to our heart, as we experienced the joy that it brought to Lilly while she underwent treatment. We know how important this program is, not only for children in hospitals but for lifting the spirits of their families too.
The Children’s Cancer Foundation has funded Music Therapy for patients at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital since 2009.
Singing, song writing, playing instruments, music relaxation and creating playlists are just some of the many methods and techniques music therapists use to assist patients in coping with their treatment.
Through the medium of music, patients develop positive coping-related behaviours which reduces anxiety.
Art Therapy provides a space for children to get messy, experiment and express themselves through the healing power of art.
The Art Therapy program within the Children’s Cancer Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital has been funded by the Foundation (with assistance from The Pratt Foundation) since 2006.
Art as therapy can be a profoundly emotional experience for children in cancer treatment and is a space for children to process and make sense of some of the feelings that hospitalisation and illness stir up, including sadness, confusion, and isolation.
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