Psychosocial and Emotional Support

Therapist with patient

We can help your patients and their carer better cope with cancer by providing counselling in person, by phone or online. We also offer group or individual peer support.     

One of our health professionals will call your patient to assess which of our services will best meet their needs.   

Cancer Counselling

Our professional counsellors understand the many challenges your patients face because of cancer.

The Cancer CounsellingService provides: 

  • short-term specialised, cancer-focused counselling support  
  • up to 6 counselling sessions with a highly trained and experienced professional to offer therapeutic support to people affected by cancer.

The Cancer Counselling Service is primarily provided online (video call) and over the phone.  Face-to-face counselling appointments may be available in some NSW locations. 

Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.

Your patient or their carer is a NSW resident who is aged over 18 and would benefit from counselling specific to the impacts of cancer.

  • Yes, the Cancer Counselling Service is a fee-for-service program. Sessions are offered at the reduced rate of $120per session.  
  • Patients who meet the income threshold can access a full subsidy. 
  • For patients who don’tmeet the income threshold but are experiencing financial distress, a partial subsidy may be available. A suitable amount will be assessed by our team of health professionals. 

Peer Support

Peer Support provides emotional and practical support for people affected by cancer. It provides an opportunity to share their experience with those who have had a similar cancer experience.  

Peer Support can: 

  • support people to navigate their cancer experience 
  • reduce levels of distress 
  • increase their coping strategies 
  • reduce feelings of isolation. 

Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.

Cancer Connect

Cancer Connect is a free and confidential one-to-one telephone-based peer support service for people undergoing an early (Stage I-III),  localised cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is also available to those recovering from this type of cancer experience and encountering survivorship issues.

Cancer Connect provides a chance for your patient to talk to a specially trained volunteer who has been through a similar diagnosis. They can help identify some coping strategies, provide practical information and general emotional support. 

  • Our trained Cancer Connect volunteers have experienced cancer and its treatment, and have now recovered or are living well with specific types of cancer. 
  • One of our health professionals will contact your patient first to discuss the service and assess their support needs to help find the best match with a peer support volunteer. 
  • Cancer Connect volunteers may contact the client for up to 6 support calls if needed.  

Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.

Telephone Support Groups

Cancer Council NSW provides Telephone Support Groups for patients living with advanced, difficult to treat, or poor-prognosis cancer. We also offer a telephone support group for people caring for someone with advanced cancer, and a group for bereaved carers.

  • Telephone Support Groups offer patients an opportunity to join a community of people facing similar challenges due to advanced/metastatic cancer, difficult-to-treat cancers, or cancers with a poor prognosis. 
  • Groups are also available for people caring for these patients, also for those struggling with bereavement from cancer (Life after Loss).   

Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.

  • The groups are facilitated by qualified health care professionals.   
  • Groups meet regularly and patients are not required to attend every group meeting (open group).   The exception is the regular bereavement group of six sessions specific for a closed group of participants. 
  • Participants need access to a landline or mobile phone, and a quiet, confidential space.   
  • The groups are respectful and confidential.   
Myeloma 2nd and 4th Monday of each month
 Advanced cancer 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Metastatic breast cancer 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
Pancreatic cancer 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
Carers 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month
Brain tumours 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
Metastatic melanoma 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
Life After Loss a 6-week bereavement program held several times a year. New participants cannot join the group once the six-week sessions have started (closed group).

Your patient must:

  • have advanced, difficult to treat, or a poor prognosis cancer
  • be caring for someone who has advanced cancer
  • have suffered from cancer related bereavement in the past 24 months (Life after Loss group)
  • be aged over 18 years
  • be able to speak and understand English
  • be living in Australia.

Reclaim Life Online Group

Reclaim Life Online Groups are tailored for people aged 25-40 who have completed active treatment for any form of primary cancer.

  • The Reclaim Life Group aims to help people develop coping skills to manage their cancer-related concerns during the early survivorship period.
  • Reclaim Life  offers the opportunity to connect with a group of people facing similar challenges after a cancer diagnosis and treatment.  

Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.

  • Reclaim Life is delivered over 6, 90-minute online sessions, plus one booster session 4 weeks after the completion of the initial sessions.
  • The group is facilitated by 2 Cancer Council NSW counsellors/psychologists. 

To attend the Reclaim Life Online Group, you need to: 

  • be aged between 25 and 40 years
  • have received a primary diagnosis and have completed active cancer treatment
  • be able to speak and understand English 
  • have experienced any type of cancer 
  • have internet/Microsoft Teams video access and be in a quiet, confidential space 
  • be living in Australia.
  • All participants will receive a workbook before the first group to use throughout the sessions. They will keep the handbooks to refer to after the group sessions have finished.
  • The groups are a mixture of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based psychoeducation, peer discussion, and group-based practice.
  • Each week, the participants will be given simple activities, which we will discuss the following week.
  • The groups comprise 4-6 people.

Cancer Council Online Community

The Cancer Council Online Community is an online platform for people affected by cancer to connect, share experiences and find information and support in a safe forum. The community is open to a range of people affected by cancer, including people with cancer, survivors, families and carers. 

  • The Cancer Council Online Community aims to reduce isolation by providing a safe space for people affected by cancer to share experiences and stories with others in similar situations.
  • The online community can be a supportive ‘soft entry point’ for those who would benefit from emotional support but are hesitant to engage with services.

Visit Cancer Council Online Community.

  • The Cancer Council Online Community is regularly moderated by a member of our professional team.
  • Anyone can view the content on the Cancer Council Online Community, including blogs, online forum discussions, and all public information.
  • Only Cancer Council Online Community members can participate on the platform by commenting, posting blogs, and interacting with others.

Visit Cancer Council Online Community.

The Cancer Council Online Community is open to: 

  • anyone affected by cancer, including those diagnosed with cancer, their carers, family, and friends   
  • anyone (from any country) looking to connect with other people affected by cancer  
  • people who are willing to share their story and receive support  
  • people who follow the Cancer Council Online Community guidelines.  

Visit Cancer Council Online Community.