The special therapy also has a positive impact on their parents and siblings, extended family, friends, their school life and the wider community who all benefit from children being able to cope better with their cancer treatment. Hospital staff also report a lower need for intervention in children undergoing procedures who have had Child Life Therapy sessions.

A father of a child undergoing Child Life Therapy said, 

“There was one person that we always looked forward to seeing at the Hospital. As soon as we mentioned the name Ronnie (our son’s Child Life Therapist) all his fear, worry and anxiety disappeared.

“Ronnie helped him to understand what he was going through, understand the different treatments and why they were so important, to trust the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, and very importantly, to feel safe and loved.”

As a not-for-profit organisation, Camp Quality currently receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of individual and corporate donors to provide their programmes and services free of charge to children and families impacted by cancer.

Debra Moore, Community and Corporate Fundraising Coordinator for Camp Quality said, 

“Port Waratah are an important member of the Camp Quality family having supported various projects for children with cancer and their families over a number of years.

“Camp Quality is incredibly grateful for the support of Port Waratah for helping to give these kids the opportunity to laugh and create positive memories during a dark time in their lives.”

In addition to the Child Life Therapy role, Port Waratah have also supported Camp Quality with their 1000ks 4 Kids annual fundraising events, volunteering employees to write caring and inspirational Christmas cards, and provided funding through Charlie’s Run 4 Kids and the employee driven initiative Vote on a Good Cause.