On Tuesday 27^th August Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP announced the expanded vision for family cancer support service, Cancer Hub. An additional $9.4m investment from the Albanese Government has been provided to address a 20% higher demand for the service than expected, by doubling navigation support and creating dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander roles.

Cancer Hub, a service collaboration between national child and youth cancer charities, Canteen, Camp Quality and Redkite launched two years ago to provide a single access point to support services for families with children and young people (0-25 years) impacted by cancer.

A national team of multidisciplinary professionals including Intake Clinicians, Cancer Navigators and Online Counsellors has since supported around 4,000 families, delivering over 19,000 intake, navigation and counselling support sessions across every state and territory. At the point of contact 83% of families surveyed reported high to extreme levels of psychological distress.

Camp Quality CEO, Deborah Thomas says demand for Cancer Hub reveals a huge need for support.

“A cancer diagnosis in the family dramatically impacts the wellbeing of not only the person diagnosed, but every family member,” Ms Thomas says.

“Each year 74,000 children, young people and parents are impacted by the trauma of cancer in their immediate family. What we are working to address as an alliance of key cancer support organisations, is that 90% of these parents and 54% of these children and young people will experience a mental health condition such as depression, PTSD or anxiety due to their own, or a family member’s cancer.”

“Australian families facing cancer are struggling at an alarming rate, physically, emotionally and with practical matters such as bills and housing. Cancer Hub is designed to reduce their distress by helping them navigate the support they desperately need. Two years on we can see this model works, with 90% of families rating the service they received as excellent, and reporting reduced distress, less challenges and a 67% increase in their ability to navigate crucial support.”

The expansion of Cancer Hub will mean approximately 12,780 more families can access the service over the next three years. Added to this, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families will be better supported with dedicated roles and the implementation of a culturally appropriate response framework, co-designed by First Nations consultants and young leaders. (Full summary of projected outcomes below). To find out more about Cancer Hub or to register your family: Cancer Hub | Support Services for Families Facing Cancer.

Source: van Warmerdam, J., Zabih, V., Kurdyak, P., Sutradhar, R., Nathan, P. C., & Gupta, S. (2019). Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with cancer: A meta-analysis. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 66(6), e27677. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.27677