What to say when someone has cancer
Finding out that someone you know has cancer is always difficult, especially if you don’t know what to say. Supporting them involves listening to what they have to say and being aware of cues in their behaviour.
Is Camp Quality Right for Your Family? Here’s What to Expect
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When a child is diagnosed with cancer, life becomes overwhelming for the entire family. Between hospital visits, treatments, and the emotional toll, finding moments of joy becomes almost impossible. That’s where Camp Quality comes in.
Camp Quality is dedicated to bringing positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer and supporting families through this difficult chapter. If you’re wondering whether Camp Quality is a fit for your family, this guide will walk you through what Camp Quality offers and how we can help.
What is Camp Quality?
Camp Quality is a national, Australian nonprofit that creates opportunities for kids facing cancer and their families to enjoy life beyond their diagnosis. Our programs are designed to provide fun, connection, and relief during the most difficult time any family can face.
Who is Camp Quality for?
Children aged 0-15 who have been diagnosed with cancer or who are dealing with the diagnosis of a sibling, parent or carer – and their families.
How does Camp Quality help?
We are there for kids facing cancer every step of the way, with services and programs revolving around four main pillars – recreation, education and in-hospital support.
What programs does Camp Quality offer?
Camps and recreation programs
Camp Quality is best known for its Kids’ Camps and Family Camps, where kids can be kids again – no hospitals, no treatments, just fun. These, and the other programs listed below offer a much-needed escape from hospital rooms and allow families to bond, recharge and catch up on quality time together.
- Kids’ Camps: Weekend retreats packed with exciting activities, from arts and crafts to outdoor adventures.
- Family Camps: A chance for the whole family to connect, relax, and make happy memories together with other families who truly understand what they are going through.
- Family Fun Days: Wonderful days out for the whole family to enjoy with other Camp Quality families.
- Family Experiences: Opportunities for individual families to have fun together, for example, at a show, movie, sporting event, or visit to the zoo.
- Family Retreats: A chance for weary families to escape to a holiday-style setting for some rest, relaxation and to bond, all free of charge. With resources stretched to the limit, this is often the only chance families get to enjoy a break together since diagnosis.
Hospital support programs
Treatment for childhood cancer can sometimes last for years and often involves traumatic and invasive procedures, medication and long, tedious hospital stays. Camp Quality offers bedside support and delivers laughs to hospitals around the country.
Bedside Puppet Playdates: The beloved Camp Quality Puppets visit kids in hospital with interactive, customised, hilarious interactions that help kids cope and fill the ward with fun and laughter. If your child is enduring an extended hospital stay, booking a puppet playdate is a wonderful way to break the monotony and put a smile on your child’s dial.
Child Life Therapy: Camp Quality funds Child Life Therapists in major paediatric oncology wards around Australia. These healthcare professionals use play-based techniques to help children cope with painful procedures and long hospital stays, reducing anxiety and the need for medical sedation.
Beads Programs: With Camp Quality’s ‘Beads of Courage’ at the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick and ‘Star Beads Program’ at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, kids craft long strings of beads to document recovery milestones and remind them of their strength and courage.
Education
Camp Quality Cancer Education Project
The Camp Quality Puppets tour schools and early learning centres with a fun and reassuring stage show that gives primary aged students a better understanding of cancer and eases the transition of child patients returning to school.
One consequence of a child’s cancer diagnosis that most people would not expect is bullying. The puppet shows demystify cancer, normalise the realities of treatment which might lead a child being bullied (such as losing hair) and remind everyone in the school community that it can happen to anyone.
The Cancer Education Puppet shows have a demonstrated positive impact in child patient’s educational outcomes, so if you have a child returning to school after cancer treatment, these could be very helpful.
For those children living with the diagnosis of someone they love, the puppet shows take the burden off the child having to answer repetitive questions and teach classmates how they can help anyone dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
The Camp Quality Puppets travel all around Australia and will visit your child’s school completely free of charge!
You don’t need to be registered with Camp Quality to book a CEP show at your school.
The Camp Quality Kids’ Guide to Cancer App
Understandably, kids who have been diagnosed with cancer and those with a family member living with cancer have a lot of questions! It’s important children’s questions are answered honestly, because a better understanding reduces anxiety.
The Kids’ Guide to Cancer app offers guidance on how to answer common questions kids have about the disease, hospitals, medicines, treatments, and the people who help in terms kids understand.
You don’t need to be registered with Camp Quality to download and use the app.
Available for both iPhone and Android.
Who is eligible for Camp Quality?
Camp Quality welcomes families impacted by cancer and supports children and their families (with a child aged under 15),who have a child with cancer or a sibling, parent or carer with cancer The application process is simple:
- Fill out the registration form to apply.
- A member of the Family Support team will be in touch soon after you register.
- Get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime!
- Any questions at all, please get in touch with a member of the Family Support team at [email protected]
What families say about Camp Quality
Still wondering if Camp Quality is the right fit? This is what some of our families had to say:
“The generosity and support from Camp Quality is overwhelming and is making a real difference in helping my son reconnect with the joys of childhood, free from the shadows of his illness” – Camp Quality mum
“We finally got to do something as a family and have a weekend away and try to be what we used to be and just have some fun” – Camp Quality mum
“Even in the darkest of times light can be found and Camp Quality has been one of those bright sparks for our family” – Camp Quality mum
So, if you’re a family with a child aged 0-15 who has been diagnosed with cancer or is living with the diagnosis of a family member, your family is eligible. Camp Quality’s aim is to give your family a break from the chaos of cancer and a chance to pull together and have some fun. If that sounds like you, register today and someone will be in touch to discuss next steps. We look forward to meeting you!
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