Helping kids living with cancer
All the money raised through Footy Colours Day funds Fight Cancer Foundation's education support programs which keeps kids learning while they undergo cancer treatment.
The education programs were developed in 2005 in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute in Melbourne to address the gap in educational support for kids and young people living with cancer.
Today the programs operate in major paediatric hospitals in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, with plans to expand to other hospitals to ensure no child or young person living with cancer is educationally disadvantaged by their illness.
The need for education support for kids with cancer
Every year, more than 950 children and young people aged 0-19 are diagnosed with cancer in Australia.
Young learners with cancer are absent from school for long periods during treatment and recovery, often becoming isolated from their school and friends. Many drop class levels when they return to school and find it difficult to engage with their education.
Making sure kids stay engaged with their education while they receive treatment for cancer is one of the fundamental ways Fight Cancer Foundation helps reduce the long term impact of cancer.
On average, kids with cancer miss out on more than six months of school which makes it difficult to keep up with their peers
How does Fight Cancer Foundation's education program help?
Our education support programs enable learners to maintain their education and connection with their school and school friends. They are also supported by a flexible, individual education program that works around their illness and treatment, allowing them to resume their lives as quickly as possible.
Through a mix of face-to-face and online learning sessions with students on the wards and in outpatient clinics our education support programs at four of Australia’s largest children’s hospitals help students get their lives back on track as soon as possible.
Continuity of education for kids and young people living with cancer helps ensure they reach their educational, professional and vocational potential.
