Free resources for teachers
Camp Quality works closely with schools and teachers across the country to ensure any child impacted by cancer feels supported.
The fun and interactive show helps schools create supportive communities for any child impacted by cancer – whether they are dealing with their own diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a sibling, mum, dad or carer.
Independent assessment by KPMG in 2020 shows that these powerful performances by the Camp Quality Puppets decrease bullying, absenteeism and mental health issues.
The Cancer Education Program is supported by a suite of educational resources aligned with the Australian Curriculum, Early Learning Framework and state-based curriculums, to carry on the conversation after the puppets have left the stage.
Our Cancer Education Digital Program is also available to schools via streaming platforms.
Our puppets provide interactive cancer education that helps to dispel common misunderstandings about cancer and deliver a shared language to facilitate cancer conversations. There is no cost for the school or students.
There are two shows, written by Julianne O’Brien, aimed at different age groups. They both follow the story of siblings Tom and Ariel as they face a cancer diagnosis in their family.
We can perform up to three shows per day with a maximum of 250 students per session.
Our program relates to kids on their level and explores themes relevant to the cancer experience, including:
Learn more about the puppet shows
A 2020 independent report by KPMG found that for every $1 spent producing our Cancer Education Program, there was a $5 return in social benefit.
The total benefits were measured across the following four key areas:
Charlotte (01:27 – 00:11:17): If there’s one word to really describe that feeling, that sense of what was coming towards us, it was just terrifying.
Stuart (00:14:15 – 00:36:04): Receiving that news is something that no one ever expects is going to happen to them. Your life changes very quickly. Shortly afterwards, Camp Quality visited with the puppets and her eyes just lit up and they were so gentle in the way they initially sort of spent a few minutes with her steadily bringing her out of her shell.
Charlotte (00:36:10 – 00:56:03): A real distraction from all the traumatic things that she had to go through every time and towards the end of her stay in hospital, she could hear them coming down the hallway. She couldn’t really articulate her words very well, and she just started calling them the poppets. The puppets were one of those activities that broke up the day.
Stuart (00:56:05 – 01:02:10): It gave us something to focus on, something to get excited about. It just made her whole day completely different.
Stuart (01:05:03 – 01:33:13): One of the challenges that Zoe faced starting kindergarten was having been away from other children. At the time, she also had pretty short hair, which is unusual for a 4 year old girl. There were children that were a bit confused, they said. Why is that little boy wearing a dress? Why is that little boy wearing pink The puppets were able to come in and explain the journey that Zoe had been through so that the other kids understood why Zoe was the way she was.
Charlotte (01:33:13 – 01:48:25): And I think that really allowed kids to ask questions and understand that it wasn’t all about appearances. It was just something Zoe had been through. And that Zoe would get through. And one day she’d have long hair again. And that’s what the puppets really helped her with.
Charlotte (01:51:08 – 02:21:18) I think for Zoe having the puppets at Kindergarten was an extension of her friends bringing her friends to her new friends and showing what she’d been through over that last 12 months and the bonds that she’d formed. Even though Zoe had short hair, she was still Zoe, and it became a non-issue. But the community really did rally around, and I think it’s things like the shows coming into those settings really made a difference.
Zoe (02:27:01 – 02:37:26): See you number 1 at hospital! Number 1! I had fun seeing Kylie!
Our puppet shows help to reduce the likelihood of bullying, confusion, exclusion and anxiety that can follow a cancer diagnosis. For children facing cancer, this makes the transition from hospital back to school a little less daunting. For kids who have a family member with a cancer diagnosis, it helps them relate to their peers, who gain a better understanding of what their family is going through.