Can Assist

Can Assist We provide financial assistance, practical support and accommodation to cancer patients in NSW. Cancer does not discriminate.

We provide our services to bridge the gap between city and country cancer patients, giving people with cancer in rural, regional and non-metropolitan areas in NSW the opportunity to have fair and equitable access to cancer care and support services. The impact it has on the patient and their loved ones is significant beyond words. Country cancer patients are faced with an even bigger hurdle in th

eir cancer journey: distance and access to services. Through the hard work and dedication of our volunteers across NSW and the generosity of individuals and communities, Can Assist is able to make a real difference to country families affected by cancer.

03/06/2026

On Monday, Mamamia shared Kate Atwood's story with audiences across Australia.

What began as a routine scan quickly became a life-changing diagnosis. At just 28 years old, Kate was told she had breast cancer.

The article highlights not only Kate's journey through surgery, fertility preservation, chemotherapy and radiation, but also the often-unseen reality faced by people living outside metropolitan areas when cancer strikes.

For many country cancer patients, treatment means far more than hospital appointments. It can mean long drives, fuel costs, accommodation expenses, time away from work and family, and the financial pressure that comes with accessing essential care far from home.

While Kate's story is uniquely hers, the challenges she faced are shared by countless regional Australians every day.

Today, Kate is cancer-free. Her story is a powerful reminder that cancer can affect anyone, at any age, and that practical support can make a significant difference during one of the most difficult periods of a person's life.

At Can Assist, we help country cancer patients overcome some of the barriers that stand between them and their treatment, providing practical and financial assistance when it is needed most.

If Kate's story resonates with you, please consider supporting Can Assist so that no country cancer patient has to face cancer alone.

Read the Mamamia Article: https://www.mamamia.com.au/kate-atwood-breast-cancer-regional/
Donate here: https://can-assist.grassrootz.com/country-cancer-patients-2026-appeal
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

❤️💛🖤 We are proud to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and families facing cancer within our local co...
01/06/2026

❤️💛🖤 We are proud to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and families facing cancer within our local community.

This National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on this year’s theme, All In — a reminder that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility, and meaningful change happens when we all show up, listen, learn and walk together.

We acknowledge the strength, resilience and knowledge of First Nations peoples, and remain committed to supporting communities with compassion, connection and cancer care close to home.

Reconciliation Australia

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel cancer is one of Australia's most common cancers, yet many people are unawar...
01/06/2026

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

Bowel cancer is one of Australia's most common cancers, yet many people are unaware of the signs and symptoms until it's too late.

This month is a reminder to listen to your body, prioritise screening, and seek medical advice if something doesn't feel right.

Early detection can save lives.
Awareness can save lives.
Conversations can save lives.

Because cancer doesn't wait - and neither should we 💛

One routine scan. One appointment she attended alone. Four words that changed everything.At just 28 years old, Kate disc...
01/06/2026

One routine scan. One appointment she attended alone. Four words that changed everything.

At just 28 years old, Kate discovered a lump and believed it was likely hormonal. Instead, she was diagnosed with grade 3 hormone-receptive breast cancer.

What followed was surgery, fertility preservation, chemotherapy, radiation, uncertainty, and the reality that many regional Australians face every day when navigating cancer treatment.

For Kate, treatment wasn't simply about appointments and recovery. It meant long drives, travel costs, time away from home, and the additional challenges that come with living in regional NSW.

Today, Kate is cancer-free.

Her story is a powerful reminder that cancer can affect anyone, at any age, and that access to support can make an enormous difference during treatment.

Thank you to for sharing Kate's story and helping shine a light on the realities faced by regional Australians living with cancer.

Please take a moment to read, share and help raise awareness.
Every share helps another person understand why support services for regional cancer patients matter.

Article: https://www.mamamia.com.au/kate-atwood-breast-cancer-regional/
Help Support Country Cancer Patients: https://can-assist.grassrootz.com/country-cancer-patients-2026-appeal

Volunteering with Can Assist means showing up for people in your own community when they need it most. It’s helping ensu...
27/05/2026

Volunteering with Can Assist means showing up for people in your own community when they need it most. It’s helping ensure no one has to face cancer alone or delay treatment because of financial pressure 💛

Across more than 60 branches in country NSW, our volunteers make real, local impact every single day.

If you’ve been thinking about giving back, this is your sign.
Join us, give what time you can, and be part of something that truly makes a difference.

🫶We often underestimate what one person can do. But change has never come from certainty — it starts with someone decidi...
26/05/2026

🫶We often underestimate what one person can do. But change has never come from certainty — it starts with someone deciding to try.

That same belief is how Can Assist began. In the 1950s, Mrs Mona Campbell Ham MBE saw the challenges facing country cancer patients, long distances to treatment, financial strain, and the isolation of being far from home. What started as a simple act of care, offering tea and support to patients in radiotherapy waiting rooms, grew into a movement to ensure country people could access cancer treatment with dignity and support.

In 1961, that vision became reality with the opening of the Jean Colvin Cancer Hostel in Sydney, and soon after, country branches began forming across NSW so support could reach people where they lived.

One belief. One person. That’s how it started. And today, across country NSW, 3,000 volunteers are doing the same, showing up and giving it a go 💚

How will you show up? 👉 Get involved here: https://bit.ly/4tRg3C9

📖 The full story of Mona Ham: https://bit.ly/4d5MENc

⛽ With the rising cost of fuel, many country cancer patients across NSW are being forced to choose between attending lif...
24/05/2026

⛽ With the rising cost of fuel, many country cancer patients across NSW are being forced to choose between attending life-saving treatment or covering everyday essentials.

We hear stories like this all too often: “I can’t afford the fuel to drive to chemo again this week.”

No one should have to make that choice.

🏥 At Can Assist, we provide practical support including fuel, accommodation, and medication assistance so patients can focus on treatment — not cost or distance. No means testing.

As the fuel crisis continues to impact rural and regional families, the pressure is growing and so is the need for support.

👉Donate today and help ensure no country cancer patient misses treatment because of cost: https://bit.ly/4esNHJs

📣National Volunteer Week (18–24 May)Thank you to every one of our wonderful Can Assist volunteers. This week, we recogni...
19/05/2026

📣National Volunteer Week (18–24 May)

Thank you to every one of our wonderful Can Assist volunteers. This week, we recognise and celebrate the time, care and heart you give to supporting locals affected by cancer across country NSW. 💛

Volunteering Australia's 2026 theme, Your Year to Volunteer, celebrates the contribution of volunteers and encourages people to dedicate time to meaningful volunteer work. Across NSW, we see our volunteers making an impact every day — building strong communities, fundraising locally, and helping country people access the treatment and care they need through support with travel, accommodation and everyday medical expenses.


⌛ Time is something many of us feel we don’t have during our busy days. But even a small amount of it can change someone...
15/05/2026

⌛ Time is something many of us feel we don’t have during our busy days. But even a small amount of it can change someone’s experience of cancer in a country community.

We have over 3,000 volunteers across country NSW and we thank them every day. 💚

Time can be given in many ways, whether you’re from the country or the city. So, take a moment to volunteer, donate, or become a sponsor today: https://bit.ly/4tRg3C9

🫂 For more than 71 years, our volunteers have remained at the heart of Can Assist. Still needed. Still here. And still m...
13/05/2026

🫂 For more than 71 years, our volunteers have remained at the heart of Can Assist. Still needed. Still here. And still making a difference.

From fundraising and local events to phone calls and practical support, they help make sure locals in their community facing cancer feel supported when they need it most.

If you’d like to give back, meet wonderful people, and support your local community, we’d love to welcome you.

👉Learn more: https://canassist.org.au/get-involved/membership-volunteering/

Address

Suite 601, Level 6, 22 Market Street
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61291373222

Website

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