Project Funding

In 2024/25, the Children’s Cancer Foundation spent $2.57 million on project funding.

Of this, $1.75 million was directed to clinical research through the Children’s Cancer CoLab, as part of the Foundation’s agreement with the State Government of Victoria, which also contributes funding.

The remaining project funding has supported researchers, clinical trials, clinical care and support services for families around Australia.

Collectively this covers 17 projects and 23 hospital and research staff.

Clinical Research

The Children’s Cancer Colab (formerly the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium)

Location: Victoria
FY24/25 Funding: $1,750,000

Overview: The Children’s Cancer CoLab (CCCoLab) has revolutionised the fight against childhood cancers in Victoria by establishing a central hub that promotes collaboration among diverse disciplines statewide. This approach encourages research breakthruoghs, fosters innovation, provides essential training, and ensures the delivery of best-practice clinical care.

Through the CCCoLab, we’re currently funding the following 7 projects:

• Next Generation Paediatric Cancer Therapies Program
• Lab-grown brain tumour models to develop new treatments for medulloblastoma
• The Victorian Paediatric Oncology Network for Drug Safety
• Strengthening the immune system after a transplant to prevent infections
• Monash Children’s Cancer Biobank
• Hudson Institute Living Biobank
• Children’s Cancer Centre Biobank

To learn more about each of these projects, head to www.cccolab.org.au/impact/funded-projects

Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Chair in Childhood Cancer

Location: Victoria

Overview: The Chair in Childhood Cancer maintains a leading research program while working closely with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, the Children’s Cancer Centre at the RCH, MCRI, and the RCH Foundation to strengthen the integration of research within childhood cancer at the Melbourne Children’s Campus. As well as connecting that campus to a broader ecosystem of partners – from the Parkville Precinct institutions and Children’s Cancer CoLab to philanthropic supporters like the Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.

To learn more about this role here.

PhD Scholars Development Program

Location: Monash University
FY 24/25 Funding: $27,770

Overview: To develop a doctoral training program focused on key research themes of precision medicine, and to strengthen cross-institutional collaborations (local, national, and international).

Clinical Trials

TarGet Collaboration

Location: ANZCHOG (Australian & New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group)
FY 24/25 Funding: $50,000

Overview: This groundbreaking partnership funding innovative clinical trials for children and young adults diagnosed with high-grade gliomas. These trials use precision medicine to personalise treatments based on each patient’s unique tumour genetics.

Clinical Care

Royal Women’s Hospital In-Time Program

Location: National
FY 24/25 Funding: $558,758

Overview: Fertility preservation for young people up to the age of 24 with cancer to preserve their fertility at no cost. This program will cover transport and cyropreservation services, training and supporting clinicians across Australia and to develop research to make fertility preservation more effective.

Learn more about the program here.

On Ward Child Psychologist Services

Location: Queensland Children’s Hospital
FY 24/25 Funding: $40,310

Overview: To ensure the mental health clinician can deliver clinical support and seamless continuity of care for patients and families facing the difficult journey of a cancer diagnosis.

Wurun Treatment Centre

Location: Royal Children’s Hospital
Funding: $255,212

Overview: A dedicated oncology treatment space transforming the experience for children requiring low-complexity procedures under anaesthesia or sedation, while also freeing up operating theatres for patients requiring more complex care. The Centre has delivered significant benefits, with early evaluation demonstrating improved patient and family experience, a strong clinical safety profile, enhanced coordination of oncology services and more efficient use of operating theatre capacity.

Learn more about the centre here.

Family Support

Family Resource Co-ordinator

Location: Royal Children’s Hospital
FY 24/25 Funding: $100,962

Overview: Funding for co-ordinators are the familiar faces within the hospital ward, they help facilitate discussion between staff and families, and provide day-to-day support through play, recreation, social activities and respite.

Patient Navigator

Location: Monash Children’s Cancer and Haematology Centre, Monash Children’s Hospital
Role commenced in July 2026.

Overview: Funding for a patient navigator provides children, young people and their families a single, consistent point of contact as they move through what is often a long and complicated care journey.

Learn more about the role here.

Family Counselling Financial Reimbursements

Location: National
FY 24/25 Funding: $34,877

Overview: Funding for counselling sessions for children with cancer, their grandparents, parents or siblings.

Find out more here.

Lillies for Hope Beaded Journey

Location: Victoria wide
FY 24/25 Funding: $3,665

Overview: The Beaded Journey gives children the opportunity to tell their personal cancer story by marking key medical and non-medical events throughout their treatment with a special bead.

Read the stories of a beaded journey.

Family Gym Memberships

Location: The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Children’s Hospital
FY 24/25 Funding: $2,379

Overview: To support parents improving their wellbeing while based at the hospital for prolonged periods caring for their children.

Family Alliance Website

Location: Victoria wide
FY 24/25 Funding: In Kind

Overview: Connecting families with credible childhood cancer charities and service providers.

Check out the Children’s Cancer Family Support Alliance website here.

Clinical Research

The Children’s Cancer Colab (formerly the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium)

Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity Chair in Childhood Cancer

PhD Scholars Development Program

Clinical Trials

Clinical Care

Family Support

Help children survive and thrive.

Your application for the Family Counselling Support Program has been submitted!