A Founder of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

$7.5 million donated since 1998

Our total to the hospital is $7,500,000. With our supporters help, we pledge to continue our support.

‘Wondero’

We were pleased to be asked to fund the ‘Wondero’ bone marrow transplant book that was launched in March 2015.

The book utilises a friendly and engaging story that allows children to relate more easily, using bright colours and cute characters to maintain positivity.

The book explains complex medical procedures step by step, in kid-friendly language.

We are proud to be the sponsor of this wonderful initiative of the Child Life Therapy and the Oncology ward at Westmead

The book is given out on a needs basis to children who need it and at the most appropriate time. The families keep the books.

The books are available online via the Westmead Kids Health bookshop and posted on Westmead’s Child Life Therapy Ass FB page.

“Thank you for the Wondero book it really helped my son understand what was going to be happening during transplant – he loves Wondero” (parent)

‘Wondero’ and the Bone Marrow Transplant was created by Child Life Therapists to educate and support children through their Bone Marrow Transplant treatment.

The book follows Wondero’s bone marrow transplant journey and explains to children (in a developmentally appropriate way) about the bone marrow transplant procedure, how a match is found, medical tests and treatment(s) before transplant, importance of taking medicine and other things to expect in hospital while in isolation.

We believe the book, apart from empowering children with knowledge, will support children’s resilience and allow them to gain some control about what is happening in their lives. We hope that the book will help encourage children to stay positive by the use of positive messages and affirmations, maintain positive self-esteem, ask questions, express feelings and learn coping strategies to support them through transplant.

We (The Children’s Hospital at Westmead) recognise The Kids with Cancer Foundation as one of the most valued Founding Partners of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. We are extremely proud and grateful for this now long standing partnership which has resulted in significant resources being directed towards the clinical and research activities of the Cancer Centre for Children. The philanthropic mission of The Foundation extends far beyond our Centre reaching out to childhood cancer units across Australia to help them meet the disparate needs of the children with cancer and their families.

We have been the direct beneficiaries of substantial financial support from the Foundation which has increased both the breadth and depth of services we provide here in the Cancer Centre for Children. We are particularly proud of the high standard of clinical care we have been able to deliver as a result of this support. We are very grateful for the commitment and generosity of the foundation having received $6 million since 1998.

The Foundation’s support has allowed us to deliver care targeted not only to the individual needs of children with cancer and their families but also more widely by providing resources to allow the Oncology Team to develop broad initiatives that provide education and support to all of our patients.

Whilst the bulk of your generosity has been directed to supporting the salaries of key clinical and selected research staff, most recently we were deeply grateful that the Foundation supported a key ‘added value’ opportunity – “Wondero and the Bone Marrow Transplant”.

The ongoing commitment to the Cancer Centre for Children has helped ensure that we continued to not only provide the highest quality of care to every patient but to also seek and implement innovative treatment strategies. The enormity of your contribution has never and will never be underestimated.

The Kids with Cancer Foundation well understands the importance of ensuring that appropriate levels of funding are available to sustain and develop our most crucial assets – the clinical care team which delivers the complex and comprehensive cancer care services to children.

The trust, dedication and enthusiasm that we share – all focused on achieving the very best of care for young cancer patients – significantly contributes to our drive to push existing boundaries to deliver life-changing care.

 

1998 Our first year raising money for the kids,  $100,948.00

• Oncology Fellowship $50,00.00
• Senior Oncology Pharmacist $46,000.00,
• Data Manager $30,000.00
• Notebook Computer $4,948.00.

The Senior Oncologist at Westmead, Dr Michael Stevens, wrote in 1998:

“My colleagues in the Oncology Unit join me in thanking you and your colleagues for this outstanding and generous support, and look forward to our continuing association for the benefit of children with cancer and their families throughout New South Wales”

1999   $276,500.00

• Senior Oncology Fellowship $50,000.00,
• Data Manager $30,000.00,
• Oncology Pharmacist $46,000.00,
• Research Assistant (Gene Therapy) $63,000.00
• Research Assistant (Unit D52 Gene Clinical) $37,500.00

over $50,000 for project and laboratory consumables as well as work station and software.

2000   $158,805.00

• Clinical Oncology Fellow $83,375.00.
• The Long Term Survivor Clinic $28,750.00.
• Clinical Research Associate-Data Manager $46,680.00.

2002-2003   $148,089.00

2002:

• C.O.G. Research Nurse $62,445.00,
• Data Operator $28,750.00.

2003:

• Social Worker 1-$56,894.00. 

2004 $379,548.00

• Oncology Fellow $79,228.00
• Medical Officer $73,504.00
• CVL/COG Nurse $52,707.00
• Clinical Research Associate $44,962.00
• Psychologist $74,090.00
• A second Social Worker 2-$55,057.00.
• In 2004 we were made a ‘Benefactor’ of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
• Unofficially with $377,000 donated we had reached ‘Benefactor’ status in 1999, our second year of funding children’s hospitals.
• The following year with $1million donated we became a ‘Founder’.

2005   $366,030.00

• Oncology Fellow $91,082.00
• Clinical Research Associate $51,689.00
• Psychologist $89,107.00
• Social Worker 1-$60,911.00
• Social Worker 2-$73,241.00

 

In September 2005 after donating over $1million, Kids with Cancer Foundation Australia was granted the status of ‘Founder’ of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

“As a wonderful and long term friend of the hospital, Kids with Cancer Foundation has been granted the status of Founder this year.  Congratulations on this amazing achievement. 

Your support over the last seven years and the magnificent contribution that you have all made to the Oncology unit is to be applauded.  You have made a real difference to children with cancer and their families that we care for.  Without your support of key positions within the team, we would, quite simply, not be able to offer the level of support that we currently do to children and their families.  

I know that you all work very hard to be able to support us like you do and on behalf of all the Oncology team here at the hospital, I want to say  congratulations and thank you for being our friends in the fight against childhood cancer.”   Niki Mackay, Account Manager, Oncology Unit.

2006  $443,064.00

• Oncology Fellow $97,242.00
• Clinical Research Associate $55,187.00
• Psychologist $97,931.00
• Social Worker 1-$63,310.00
• Social Worker 2-$61,898.00
• Social Worker 1-$67,496.00

“These positions (social work) allow us to provide a high level of diverse support to children diagnosed with cancer and their families.  We are delighted at how the social work service is developing and the number of children and families we are able to assist with the support of Kids with Cancer Foundation”  said Lyn Biviano, Head, Department of Social Work, November 2006.

2007  $322,275.00

• Oncology Fellow $101,131.00
• Clinical Research Associate $57,394.00
• Psychologist $101,847.00
• Social Worker 1-$63,310.00
• Social Worker 2-$61,903.00

 

 

In 2008 we gave two Mac laptop computers to the Oncology Play Therapist, Cathy Quinn at Westmead.  The kids in the oncology ward use the Macs to occupy their time while they are in the ward for treatment.

The Macs allow the children to play kids games, boys games and girls games and via the inbuilt camera, microphone and music software to create music and songs as well as images of their visitors and nursing staff as a slide show and share them with others in the Oncology ward.  Their visitors are able to download recent images or movies of family events away from the hospital for the kids to watch.

2009 $497,885

• Oncology Fellow 125,713.00
• Clinical Research Associate $83,217.00
• Psychologist $130,217.00
• Social Worker 2 $83,012.00
• Social Worker 1 $75,726.00

You would be fully aware of how strenuously we strive to improve the cure rate and quality of life for the children we treat and that your contribution and that of your team in supporting our efforts is of immense value.

Thank you from all of us, for helping to support each child and family undergoing treatment for cancer. Everyone should know that the support from Kids with Cancer Foundation underpins and adds quality to the care and services that we at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are able to provide.
Doctor Luciano Dalla-Pozza, Senior Staff Specialist,
Head, Oncology Unit. March 2009

2010 $404,796

• Oncology Fellow $119,105.00
• Psychologist $132,063.00
• Social Workers x 2 $151,629.00

Kids with Cancer Foundation is a valued partner of the work we do at the Oncology Department. Kids with Cancer Foundation shares our commitment to supporting and impacting the lives of children diagnosed and managing cancer and their families.

Without the support of Kids with Cancer Foundation in funding the various programs — our work would not be possible. The positions supported through Kids with Cancer Foundation directly benefit the children and families in our care and make an enormous difference to their lives not just now but in the future. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is proud and appreciative of our partnership with the Foundation recognised as ‘Founder’ of the Hospital.  April 2010

2011 $524,565

2011 is our 13th year of support for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

• Oncology Fellow $132,740
• Psychologist $137,497
• Social Workers x 2 $168,279
• Clinical Research Associate $86,049

The Oncology Department at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is the largest childhood cancer department in NSW. Each year in NSW approximately 250 new children are diagnosed with cancer. We are responsible for the care of between 120 and 150 of these new patients and their families. Since 1976 more than 3,000 children have received treatment for cancer in our department and more than 2,200 of these patients are long-term survivors. Back in 1976 when our unit opened its doors, most children with cancer died. Now, because of intense and focused research, there have been vast improvements in treatment and supportive care and, 4 out of 5 children survive cancer permanently.

The department’s multi-disciplinary approach to curing children with cancer means that the unique needs and concerns of each patient and their families can be individually addressed. Quality of life is particularly important to our young patients and their families. We have an array of specialists on call to help support each child and family through tailored treatment programs. These include psychologists, social workers, child life (play) therapists, specialist nurses, teachers, and paediatric fellows. 

The exceptional calibre of the department’s staff underpins the firm foundation of our childhood cancer treatment program. Our team provides not only medical excellence which is delivered with sensitivity, but also emotional support to children and their families. 

Sustaining existing programs and developing new initiatives to explore research and treatment opportunities are not possible without the support of our partners ids with Cancer Foundation is a valued partner of the work we do at the Oncology Department. Kids with Cancer Foundation shares our commitment  to supporting and impacting the lives of children diagnosed with and managing cancer. Kids with Cancer Foundation recognises the need to treat the family rather than the individual and  without the support of Kids with Cancer Foundation in funding the various  programs, this holistic approach to our work would not be possible. 

The positions supported through Kids with Cancer Foundation directly benefit the children and families in our care and make an enormous difference to their lives not just now but in the future. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is proud and appreciative of our partnership with the Foundation recognised as Founder of the Hospital. 

The Hospitals’ greatest asset is our staff and we seek support from Kids with Cancer Foundation to continue their invaluable partnership to the Oncology Department in funding these critical positions within our childhood cancer treatment program. March 2011

In 2011 we donated 2 Apple iPads to remain as the property of the Social Work Unit for the use of children in isolation and kids games, boys games and girls games are important when so much time is spent in hospital.  The iPads can be used and taken home by the children when they are allowed home yet return as outpatients.  Pictured is Social Worker Jessica Watt.

2012  $428,768

2012 is our 14th year of support for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

• Oncology Fellow $138,143
• Psychologist $143,100
• Social Workers x 2 $82,061 and $65,464

2013   $400,000

• Oncology Fellow $138,143
• Psychologist $143,100
• Social Workers x 2 $82,061 and $65,464
• Wondero book sponsorship $15,000

2013 is our 15th year of support for the The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

the 14th year supporting the Oncology Fellow and our 10th year of support of social workers, 2 at Westmead, 1 each at Sydney Children’s and Bear Cottage

2014  $622,764

• Oncology Fellow $126,508
• Psychologist $131,037
• Social Workers x 2 $80,234 and $75,044
• Clinical Research assistant $86,539
• Registered Nurse $56,453
• Part time Psychologist $60,000

2014 is our 16th year of support for the The Children’s Hospital at Westmead,

the 15th year supporting the Oncology Fellow and our 11th year of support of social workers, 2 at Westmead, 1 each at Sydney Children’s and Bear Cottage.  Our support of research at the hospital commenced in 1999 and continues today.

2015  $427,238

• Oncology Fellow $131,301
• Clinical Psychologist $136,013
• Social Workers x 2 $73,794 and $86,130

2015 is our 17th year of support for the The Children’s Hospital at Westmead,

the 16th year supporting the Oncology Fellow and our 12th year of support of social workers, 2 at Westmead, 1 each at Bear Cottage and Monash Children’s Hospital.  Our support of research at the hospital commenced in 1999 and continues today.

2016  $313,606

• Clinical Psychologist, Rhondaa Rytmeister
• Social Workers x 2, Carly Jeffery & John Wigan

 

 

2017  $329,481

• Clinical Psychologist, Rhondaa Rytmeister
• Social Workers x 2, Carly Jeffery & John Wigan

 

2018  $380,623

• Clinical Psychologist, Rhondaa Rytmeister
• Social Workers x 2, Carly Jeffery & John Wigan

2019  $226,252

Social Workers x 2, Carly Jeffery & John Wigan

See some other other work we’ve done in hospitals throughout Australia