Annual Report 2024-2025
Cancer Council NSW acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We pay respect to the Elders and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Professor Sarah Hosking
Cancer Council NSW CEO
Michael Morgan
Cancer Council NSW Chair of the Board
It brings us great pleasure to introduce Cancer Council NSW’s FY25 Annual Report, marking 70 years of community-powered impact since 1955. Since our inception, we have become the largest non-government funder of cancer research. We have fearlessly advocated for changes which have significantly reduced the impact of tobacco and skin cancer. We have also become a key provider of essential support services across NSW. Over the past few decades, we have seen the five-year survival rate for cancer rise from 50% to 71% today.
We are incredibly proud of these achievements, but there is so much more to do. Almost 1 in 2 Australians receive a cancer diagnosis before the age of 85. And we know that this burden falls disproportionately across NSW. But we’re working hard to change these statistics, collaborating across the cancer control sector in step with the Australian Cancer Plan and the NSW Cancer Plan 2022-2027.
As we reflect on the year that was, our work tackling tobacco and vaping stands out to us, as our research with the University of Sydney shows how we are successfully changing habits in NSW. After more than a decade of passionate and sustained advocacy from staff and volunteers, we helped to secure new tobacco licensing laws in NSW, which will help turn the tide on illicit tobacco. We also commenced a new vaping cessation initiative with nib foundation to help young people quit vaping for good.
We stepped up our efforts to improve the lives of people living with cancer with by investing a further $16.3m into world-class research, with key projects entering clinical trial and patenting stages. We also appointed Professor Bogda Koczwara as the inaugural Director of the Australian Research Centre for Cancer Survivorship – our $40m, 10-year partnership with The University of NSW. And we collaborated with the NSW Government and other organisations across the cancer control continuum to shape National Navigation, which will make it easier for people with cancer to access the support they need.
This year, equity remained a high priority for us. We redesigned our financial navigation service, introduced new bilingual Cancer Council Liaison roles in treatment centres in South West Sydney and partnered with community leaders to raise awareness and uptake of cancer screening in underscreened communities. We also contributed evidence that heavily influenced a parliamentary inquiry’s recommendations to improve services for cancer patients in regional, rural and remote locations.
We couldn’t have achieved all of this without the enduring support of the NSW community. Together with your help, we are helping Australians stop cancer before it starts. We are researching new ways to diagnose and treat cancers and improving the lives of people living with cancer. And we are providing essential support to everyone in NSW – particularly those who need it most. Together, it’s all of us against cancer.
We continued to drive smoking and vaping rates down this year:
We were Gold Sponsors of the Conquering Skin Cancer documentary, engaging Local Health Districts and key government and industry stakeholders to improve sun safety in NSW.
Daffodil Centre researchers also played a lead role in co-developing the new Roadmap for a National Targeted Skin Cancer Screening Program with Melanoma Institute Australia and a $7.5m Australian Government grant.
In July 2024, we co-convened a national policy roundtable on obesity, a known risk factor for 13 types of cancer.
We were joined by experts, clinicians and lived experience voices from Cancer Council Australia, Public Health Association of Australia and the Western Sydney University Translational Health Research Institute.
Together, we’re helping more Australians reduce their cancer risk without stigma or blame.
84%
of primary schools participated in our SunSmart program
1,400
pieces of media coverage about Generation Vape, reaching over 15 million people
219
golf clubs participated in our Improve Your Long Game program
199,028
people visited our Healthy Made Tasty website
This year, our cancer research funding culminated in many exciting milestones, including:
* This project was proudly funded through our partnership with Box Rallies.
“When I was a medical student, the term ‘cancer survivor’ simply did not exist. Today, cancer is no longer a death sentence. This is something that’s truly worth celebrating.
“But while cancer treatments have advanced quite significantly over the past 40 years, the pace of survivorship research has not been as rapid. ARCCS is here to change this.”
– Prof Bogda Koczwara AM
Since Box Rallies was launched in 2009, it has been a winning formula of hard work, fun and fundraising with participants testing themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually.
During FY25, Box Rallies proudly celebrated the remarkable achievement of raising over $50m for Cancer Council, fuelling groundbreaking cancer research across Australia, including 13 promising new projects this year.
“Our work will establish an evidence-based Roadmap with recommended next steps in multi-cancer detection test evaluation and trials” - A/Prof Steinberg
A/Prof Julia Steinberg of the Daffodil Centre is leading an ambitious new research project into multi-cancer detection tests, in collaboration with researchers across the world and with funding from the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund.
$16.3m
our investment into world-class research in 2024/25
This included additional funding for our competitive national grants program with 49 active projects led by 18 institutions and involving 172 researchers.
“Because of Cancer Council and you, we felt supported, understood and not invisible.”
Cathy
This year, we placed new bilingual liaisons in hospitals to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities. They are helping patients and families understand their care, access support services, and break down language or cultural barriers.
Gloria is one of our new bilingual liaisons based in South West Sydney. This year, Gloria was able to help a woman named Cathy, who only speaks Mandarin, and her 32-year-old daughter Amanda, who was diagnosed with end stage breast cancer and has since passed away.
Gloria supported Cathy and Amanda to ensure they were connected to the care they needed, including financial and legal support, through Cancer Council and navigating to appropriate support from other external organisations.
We launched “Cancer Conversations in the Workplace” training with our partners Publicis Groupe. Over 100 staff members completed the training, building confidence talking about cancer and supporting colleagues impacted by cancer.
Publicis Groupe also supported our work on the National Information Strategy, helping to bring our trustworthy cancer information to all Australians, when and how they want it.
We worked with government and sector partners to plan a new national cancer navigation service, making it easier for people to access the right support and directly supporting the NSW Cancer Plan’s equity goals.
Our new Healthcare Professional Referral Portal and refreshed resources make it easier for healthcare professionals to connect patients with Cancer Council support services. Together, we’re providing coordinated, high-quality care at every stage, including emotional, financial, legal and practical assistance.
We would like to thank our generous pro bono partners who help to deliver our Legal, Financial Planning and Workplace Referral Services. With their support, we helped patients and carers access professional advice with cancer-related legal, financial or workplace issues when they otherwise would not be able to afford to do so.
9,075
times our 13 11 20 information and support team were contacted by people affected by cancer, health professionals, and the general public
27,844
visitors received face-to-face information or support at a Cancer Council Information Service
43,204
listens to our cancer support and information podcasts
191,802
times our Understanding Cancer resources were distributed
Together, we’re standing up for fairer, more equitable care for every person facing cancer in NSW. This year:
This project would not have been possible without the generous support of the Pink Sari Project, SydWest, Indian Beauty Secrets, local health professionals, and a grant provided by the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative, an initiative by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (formerly DHAC).
As part of our commitment to working alongside communities for better outcomes, we developed a new 2-year Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, staff and volunteers.
Looking ahead, we will continue to nurture relationships in community, strengthen our capacity to deliver culturally safe and responsive services, and introduce new Aboriginal identified roles in regional and rural NSW.
1,490
people received financial guidance, information and support through our Financial Navigation service
189
community activations delivered to raise awareness of bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening in community
$108,129
total debts waived for cancer patients and carers, resulting from negotiations with creditors
16,681
trips made by our Transport to Treatment drivers
We would like to recognise the exceptional individuals, who left a gift in their Will to Cancer Council NSW in 2024/25. Together, they donated $29,150,000 this year. There is no greater legacy than a gift towards a cancer free future for generations to come. We are incredibly grateful for this support.
After learning about their dear friend Ray’s final wish to leave a gift in his Will to Cancer Council NSW, Jo and John were inspired to follow in his footsteps.
“Our decision to leave a gift in our Will to Cancer Council is very personal to us,” Jo says, “I’m now a great-grandmother and I want those children to see their life through.” John agrees: “The future without cancer would be fantastic. With all the donations, I think we can do it”.
“Volunteering is now part of my journey, part of who I am. It gives me hope for future generations.” - Alison
After the death of her husband to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Alison noticed the Cancer Council daffodil adorning an office building. It sparked her curiosity. 35 years on, we can’t thank her enough for her incredibly volunteering in fundraising and advocacy.
Greg ‘Johno’ Johnson was awarded the 2025 Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his volunteering in the community.
Thank you, Greg, for your passionate contributions as a Wagga Wagga Relay for Life committee member for the past 21 years and Transport to Treatment volunteer driving for the past six years.
As a member of the Cancer Council POSH Gala Ball Committee, Jenny has been instrumental in making POSH not just a successful fundraiser, but an event that is memorable, elegant and fun, encouraging our guests to return year after year. We honour and thank Jenny for her outstanding contributions.
We would like to thank our amazing philanthropic and corporate partners for their incredible support this year. Together, we’re maximising the impact of our researchers, prevention and support programs and advocacy efforts.
Perpetual Trustees provided funding our new Community Partnership Project, enabling us to partner with local organisations in underserved NSW communities to improve access to tailored cancer education, screening and prevention initiatives, and culturally responsive information and support services.
We would also like to thank Perpetual for continuing to assist in facilitating our Accommodation Hardship program and Financial Assistance Service.
Max Denton donated to Cancer Council NSW in 2014 after a friend suggested he and his wife participate in the 7 Bridges Walk. From there, we have developed a great relationship that has now lasted over 10 years. Max has since supported our annual POSH Gala Ball and provided funds for the dollar-match day during the 7 Bridges Walk campaign.
We would like to thank Philip Tarrant, Director of Momentum Media, who has supported our POSH Gala Ball for the past 15 years and sat on the POSH Committee for the past seven years.
We would also like to thank fellow Director Alex Whitlock, for his ongoing support, and give a special mention to Allisha Katalinic, for her outstanding design work.
We proudly joined forces with Sydney FC at the start of the 2024/25 A-Leagues season, encouraging their passionate fanbase to access cancer support when they need it.
Special thanks goes to Sydney FC goalie Harrison Devenish-Meares and his wonderful mum Rossana, who opened up about their experience with cancer to help raise awareness.
