In 1975, a group of desperate yet determined parents, along with medical staff at the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital, gathered with one goal. They wanted to help each other through the unpredictable journey of childhood cancer. Among them, their children were fighting their individual battles with cancer and leukaemia, diseases that, in children, look and behave very differently than in adults. These parents and medical professionals saw what others didn’t: that every member of the family needs care, not just the child in treatment. It was from this belief that Childhood Cancer Support was created.
Back then, there were no roadmaps for the parents to follow. Just a deep desire to ease the fear, isolation and exhaustion that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis. From the beginning, the group focused on advocacy and improvement in treatment facilities, including the need for skilled personnel and specialised equipment. But their mission quickly grew. They recognised that families travelling from regional areas needed more than medical care, they needed a home away from home.
In 1979, the group made their first major milestone, securing a mortgage to purchase a house in Herston, just streets away from the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital. It offered families something simple, yet important. It was a home away from home, a place to shower, cook, rest or just sit in a comfortable chair.
Fast forward to today, and Childhood Cancer Support has become one of Queensland’s most trusted charities. We now offer 14 long-term, fully self-contained units across six houses, 7 of which are nestled in Herston, complete with a playground, gym, community room and gardens.
We also provide four units in South Brisbane, close to the Queensland Children’s Hospital. And for families returning home but needing to travel back for check-ups, we offer short-term accommodation in our modern South Brisbane house, just a 5–10-minute walk from care.
In 2021, recognising the growing need for family-focused accommodation, we expanded again, purchasing five houses in East Brisbane, just minutes from the hospital. We are currently housing families in East Brisbane. These East Brisbane houses is part of our vision for the future. These houses will be transformed into 15 additional family units.
Through all of this, one thing remains the same: our unwavering commitment to family. Treatments today may be more advanced, but the emotional toll is still immense. A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, uprooting their routines, separating siblings and isolating families, especially for regional families forced to relocate for months or even years.
That’s why we don’t just provide beds. We provide a home away from home for the whole family, for the whole journey.
When home is far, love is near.
And in 2026, we’ll be proudly celebrating 50 years of supporting families during some of their toughest times. It’s a milestone that honours the courage of those first parents and every family since.
We invite you to join us on this journey and help us make an impact now and into the future.
(07) 3844 5000
info@ccs.org.au
