South Australia Support Services

• Cancer Council Helpline
• Cancer Council Connect
• Support Groups
• Living With Cancer Education program
• Financial Assistance program
• Accommodation
• Support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities

Cancer Council Helpline

Our Helpline 13 11 20 is a confidential telephone information and support service. For the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia, specialist cancer nurses can answer questions about any aspect of cancer, including:

• How to prevent cancer or find it early
• How to cope with treatment and its side effects

They can also:

• Send information resources
• Put callers in touch with services in their local area
• Offer emotional support to cancer patients, their families and carers

The Cancer Helpline can provide information and support to anyone affected by cancer including carers/partners. Contact can be made via the phone 13 11 20 or by email at chl@cancersa.org.au. Information can also be accessed via the Cancer Council website at www.cancersa.org.au.

Cancer Council Connect

Cancer Council Connect is a program that aims to assist people affected by cancer inclusive of partners/carers by putting them in contact with someone who has been through a similar experience. Trained volunteers who have successfully adjusted to their experience of cancer make personal contact predominantly by phone. Other arrangements such as visiting or meeting can be made by mutual agreement. The volunteer’s role is to provide social and emotional support and in this way they are complementary to the health care team whose role it is to provide professional medical advice, treatment and care.

Support Groups

The Cancer Council can

• Provide locations of support groups throughout South Australia
• Offer assistance with setting up a support group and training opportunities
• Offer opportunities to be part of a network of cancer support groups
• Provide a free Support Group Newsletter
• Free resources for promotion

Living With Cancer Education program

The Cancer Council can provide details of various programs being offered in local communities. They are delivered by accredited trainers and provide accurate, current information along with support by offering opportunities to meet and share experiences with others for people with cancer, their family and friends. There are also programs specifically addressing the needs of people with advanced cancer. The Staying Healthy after Cancer program is for people who have completed treatment or have a chronic cancer and are interested in exploring ways of managing.

The Cancer Council also facilitates regular community forums dealing with subjects which have been identified as areas where it is difficult to find information, where community demand has determined a need or where there is new information which needs to be disseminated.

Financial Assistance program

Often, people find themselves with a reduced income at a time when they are having increased demands for things such as medication costs, travel, heating and cooling and so on. It is often difficult to talk about your financial situation, but it is well recognised that having a significant illness places an added burden at a time when it is least needed. The Cancer Council may be able to assist in these circumstances and has a range of small grants available. Assistance with respite may also be available for people caring for someone with advanced cancer.

Accommodation

The Cancer Council South Australia owns and operates two accommodation facilities for use by country people traveling to Adelaide for cancer treatment. They are Greenhill Lodge, a 55-room motel at 204 Greenhill Road, Eastwood and Seaview Lodge, a group of 9 units at Fullarton.

Support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities

The Cancer Council is developing services to meet the needs of people from CALD communities and currently has access to some translated materials. The organisation also utilises the translator service for people who would like to speak with the Cancer Helpline and there is some diversity amongst volunteers involved in Cancer Council Connect.

© 2008 Cancer Council