Practical help

These resources provide information on day-to-day support, work, transport, accommodation, financial and legal information.

Gather my crew
(AUS)
Handy online rostering tool for coordinating tasks and offers of help. Note that you will need to register to use the site.
 (web tool)

Mummy's Wish
(AUS)
Mummy's Wish is a registered charity that provides practical support to women diagnosed with cancer who have children aged 12 years and under.
 (organisation)

What can I do to help?
Deborah Hutton, Short Books (UK, 2010)
This book provides lots of ideas for ways in which family and friends can provide practical help to people who have had a cancer diagnosis. Available from Counterpart library, which provides resources to women who have had an experience of breast or a gynaecological cancer, in Victoria.
 (book)

Dealing with practical aspects of cancer
Cancer Australia (AUS)
This page provides links to practical information about getting treatment. Includes treatment planning, cost of treatment and questions to ask your treating team. It may be helpful to take a friend or family member to appointments with you.
 (web)

We're all in this together. Dealing with cancer: a guide for mums
Mummy's Wish (AUS, 2018)
This is a very practical and readable guide for mothers who have been diagnosed with cancer. It includes lots of ideas for managing a family, talking to children, dealing with school, making memories, getting financial advice and finding further support.
  (Book, 36 pages. PDF, ebook to view online)

Financial, legal and workplace support
Denise Beovich/Counterpart (AUS, 2021)
Learn about what support is available from Cancer Council Victoria on issues including: preparing wills and power of attorney documents; early access to superannuation; insurance claims and disputes; credit and debt issues; managing workplace issues and handling disruption to your small business.
(webinar)

Work
Cancer Council Victoria (AUS)
This menu page links to information for individuals with cancer and their employers supporting them.
 (web)

Cancer, work & you
Cancer Council Australia (AUS, 2019)
This booklet includes information on how cancer might affect your work,  tips for working during treatment and what to consider when returning to work, information for working carers, and an overview of your rights.
  (68-page booklet – PDF and hard copy)

Travellers Aid
(VIC)
Travellers Aid provides assistance to people travelling to Melbourne's Southern Cross or Flinders Street Stations, or to Seymour Station, in Victoria. Services include a Companion Service for travelling to appointments, and a Buggy Service, which is particularly helpful for seniors or people who are unwell. Bookings are necessary.
 (support service)

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)
Better Health Channel (AUS)
A simpler explanation of how VPTAS can help Victorians living in rural and regional areas with the cost of travelling long distances for specialist medical treatment. Read this before reading the more detailed page from the Department of Health, below.
 (web)

Patient transport
Cancer Council Victoria (AUS, 2017)
Fact sheet explaining the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS), which helps pay for costs of transport to specialist medical treatment.
  (fact sheet)

Victorian Patient Transport

Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)
Victoria. Department of Health (AUS, 2019)
A thorough explanation of VPTAS, with links for more details and to make contact. You may find it helpful to read one of the brief explanations of the Scheme on the sites above if you’re not already familiar with it.
 (web)

Practical and financial assistance
Cancer Council Australia (AUS)
Explanation of assistance available from the Cancer Council. Includes a video of volunteer driver, Frank, who drives patients to hospital for treatment in Sydney, He and his wife Barbara have each had an experience of cancer. Scroll down to the map to find out what support is available in your area.
   (web page with video and map tool)

Hospital costs and payments
Better Health Channel (AUS,  2015)
If you’re unsure about costs of treatment, this is a good place to start. It explains public and private healthcare, insurance and Medicare. Includes questions you might wish to ask your doctor and/or private health insurer.
 (web)

Hospital stay – financial support and family accommodation
Better Health Channel (AUS, 2015)
Practical advice for family members of people receiving treatment for cancer.  Includes financial help, accommodation for families, VPTAS travel assistance scheme, respite care, palliative care, and where to get more help.
 (web)

Help with money
Cancer Council (AUS, 2017)
This brochure provides tips for dealing with money problems. Fact sheet from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Information series.
  (PDF fact sheet)

Pro bono services
Cancer Council Victoria (AUS)
This page explains assistance and pro bono services available to people with cancer in Victoria. They include legal, financial planning, workplace and small business advice. Includes a list of other services that may be of assistance with this matters.
 (web)

Cancer and your finances
Cancer Council Australia (AUS, 2021)
This booklet provides advice on managing the financial pressures of a cancer diagnosis. Includes a glossary of financial terms, and information on where to get further information and support.
  (48-page booklet – PDF)

The law and cancer
McCabe Centre/Counterpart (AUS, 2018)
This presentation by Sondra Davoren, Deborah Lawson and Tarishi Desai from the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, explains laws around informed consent, medicinal cannabis and alternative therapies, use of genetic information by insurers, advance care planning, travel insurance after cancer and workplace rights.Recorded at Counterpart Resource Centre.