Cancer Council Liaisons (CCL) work alongside health professionals in multiple hospitals across NSW to support cancer patients and their families at all stages of the cancer continuum.
Cancer Council Liaisons:
- are available on site to provide information and support for cancer patients, carers, and family members
- assess patient’s/carer’s supportive care needs and navigate them to relevant support services
- listen to patient or carer concerns and provide short term emotional support to decrease distress in the moment and navigate them to ongoing support if required
- are a gateway service for support services provided by Cancer Council.
FAQs about Cancer Council Liaisons
- Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre – Albury Wodonga Health Campus
- Blacktown Cancer and Haematology Centre – Blacktown Hospital
- Central Coast Cancer Services – Gosford and Wyong Hospitals
- Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre – Prince of Wales Hospital
- Northern Sydney Cancer Centre – Royal North Shore Hospital
- North West Cancer Centre -Tamworth Hospital
Health professionals can quickly refer patients and their family members to the Cancer Council Liaison in their treatment centre in person, via email, phone, or the hospital’s eMR system where available.
Get to know our Cancer Council Liaisons
Kate and Kelly are our two featured liaisons. Check again soon to meet some of our other liaisons.
Kate
Cancer Council Liaison, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital
Kate is a physiotherapist with many years working as a hospital-based clinician with experience in oncology and community palliative care.
Kate is keenly aware of the difficulties cancer patients and their families can experience when accessing information and supports specific to their needs.
Kate enjoys working collaboratively with the health professionals working in oncology, haematology and palliative care in the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre and acute hospital wards to provide supportive care services. Kate advises patients and their families about information and services provided by Cancer Council, Royal North Shore Hospital and other organisations.
Working with patients and their families in the hospital allows me to support people through a particularly challenging time in their lives. Being able to help with service navigation and accessing the right support at the right time is hugely rewarding.
Kate
Kelly
Cancer Council Liaison, Central Coast Cancer Services, Gosford and Wyong Hospital
Kelly is a registered nurse with more than 10 years’ experience working in oncology including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and stem cell collection. Before becoming a Cancer Council Liaison, Kelly worked with the Cancer Council NSW 13 11 20 Information and Support Service.
Working alongside health professionals, Kelly uses her extensive knowledge of cancer treatments and the varying needs of cancer patients and carers to provide information and support to cancer patients, carers, and family members. As a central coast local, Kelly has a vast knowledge of the support available within the hospital, local community, and charitable organisations.
Kelly is keenly aware of the importance of empathy when talking to patients and their families, allowing time for them to feel heard.
Speaking to a patient at the right place and at the right time is so important in supporting them at times of great distress. Being able to offer support at all stages of the cancer continuum from diagnosis, during treatment, survivorship or palliative care gives me such fulfilment in the role. It is so important being able to offer support not only to the patients but to their family members.
Kelly