Camp Quality Announces Funding for a Child Life Therapist at Canberra Hospital to Increase Cancer Support in the ACT

Camp Quality today announced funding for a full-time Child Life Therapist (CLT) at Canberra Hospital in the Children’s Ward.

When a child is in hospital, they can find medical procedures frightening and painful. Extended hospital stays can be stressful and disrupt opportunities for developmentally supportive play.

Child Life Therapists support children undergoing procedures and extended hospital stays by using medical play techniques to inform and empower them, reduce anxiety and ultimately the need for sedation during treatments. Child Life Therapists also support families with a child experiencing palliative care.

Camp Quality has committed to a minimum period of two years of support at a cost of around $300,000. This will be Camp Quality’s eighth sponsored Child Life Therapist in children’s hospital wards across Australia, with roles already in place in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Perth.

Camp Quality CEO, Deborah Thomas, and the entire team are proud to be funding this vital support, specifically for Canberra and the ACT, where the charity already has a significant number of kids and families registered for our services, as well as many loyal, local supporters.

“As we expand Camp Quality’s services and programs across Australia, we have been looking closely at where there are gaps in program delivery for children impacted by a cancer diagnosis or terminal illness,” Ms Thomas says.

“We discovered a need for a full-time Child Life Therapist in the Canberra Hospital children’s wards, to provide support for children in the region and also to ensure continuity of care as patients are often transferred to children’s hospitals in Sydney for a period – where they are likely to encounter a CLT who we already sponsor.”

A case in point: At just four-years-old Amelia was diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma. Amelia faced scary procedures that sparked fear and tears because she didn’t understand what was happening.

The Camp Quality sponsored Child Life Therapist helped Amelia through a particularly difficult procedure by redirecting her attention to a special food preparation game on a tablet, distracting her so that scary procedures were a more bearable experience.

“Amelia went from running in fear from the radiation rooms to searching for treasure hidden by the fairies in that very same hallway. She doesn’t even think twice about walking into a CT
or PET scan room now,” says her mum, Mandy.

“We are very grateful to our wonderful supporters in Canberra, many of whom have been with Camp Quality for decades. Over this period, we have provided a continuum of support services and programs, including our Family Camps and Family Getaways as well as our Cancer Education Program presented by the Camp Quality puppets. We are very proud to be able to directly impact the ACT community by significantly expanding our support in the region,” Ms Thomas added.

Camp Quality is committed to further supporting kids and their families impacted by a cancer diagnosis in the ACT and surrounding areas. As well as the Child Life Therapy funding, Camp Quality puppets will visit Canberra Hospital for several days at least four times a year to provide fun, laughter and distraction to children visiting the oncology clinics for treatment and check-ins with their oncology team.

In 2023, there were more than 6,200 sessions held by Camp Quality funded Child Life Therapists, but many kids are still missing out on this vital support.  “We are privileged to be in a position to support children diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses in the ACT and surrounding areas with this invaluable service,” Ms Thomas says.

Learn more about Camp Quality’s Child Life Therapy program.