Introduction
The Children’s Cancer Foundation is an Australian philanthropic organisation that funds childhood cancer research, clinical care and family support. With roots in parent-led initiatives established in 1992, it works with hospitals, researchers, donors and community partners to improve treatment and support for children affected by cancer.
The Foundation reports A$2.57 million in impact funding during the 2024/25 financial year, supporting 17 projects. Its work connects scientific research with services that help children and families manage the challenges of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
History and Background
The Foundation’s origins lie in the Kids Oncology and Leukaemia Action (KOALA) Group, formed in 1992 by parents of children receiving treatment at Monash Children’s Hospital. The group provided mutual support while seeking improvements in children’s cancer care.
In 1998, another parent-led organisation, the Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation, was established around The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Its supporters helped raise funds for cancer treatment facilities and associated research infrastructure.
The KOALA Foundation and Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation merged in June 2012 to form the Children’s Cancer Foundation. The organisation adopted its current public branding in 2015, continuing a shared commitment to research, clinical services and family wellbeing.
Mission and Purpose
The Children’s Cancer Foundation raises and invests funds to develop better cancer treatments and support for children and their families.
Its stated vision is that, by 2029, Australian children with cancer will have access to world-class treatment and support to survive and thrive. This is a strategic ambition guiding its funding decisions.
The Foundation’s values emphasise collaboration, accountability, advocacy and curiosity. Its approach brings together medical expertise and families’ lived experience to identify gaps in treatment and support services.
Governance and Structure
A volunteer board oversees the Foundation. Its members include business leaders, parents whose children have experienced cancer, and a childhood cancer survivor. The Hon. Jaala Pulford serves as chair, while Margaret Fitzherbert is chief executive officer. The organisation operates under ABN 96 114 942 415.
For its 2026 grant round, a Grants Funding Sub-Committee assesses applications, with final funding decisions made by the board. The assessment process considers need, innovation, measurable impact, feasibility, sustainability and value for money. Conflicts of interest must be declared and managed.
Annual reports and financial statements are available through the Foundation’s website, providing donors with information about its activities and financial stewardship.
Funding and Grants
The Foundation raises money through The Million Dollar Lunch, community fundraising, corporate sponsorship, donations and bequests. Continuing project funding depends on agreed milestones and reporting against objectives.
Its 2026 grant funding round offers a total pool of A$500,000 for projects improving paediatric cancer care and family support. Applications from A$10,000 are welcome; the Foundation may support several smaller projects or allocate most of the pool to one project.
Applications close on 14 December 2026 at 5 pm AEDT, with outcomes expected by the end of March 2027 and funding available from July 2027. The lead applicant must be an Australian health service with an ABN. NGOs and community organisations may participate as project partners.
This round supports care improvements, equipment, family welfare, implementation of research findings, and regional or rural services. Discovery and translational research receive separate support through Children’s Cancer CoLab.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Children’s Cancer CoLab
The Foundation helped establish the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium in 2021, now known as Children’s Cancer CoLab. It brings together hospitals, universities and medical research institutes to advance childhood cancer research.
A funding package announced in 2023 combined a A$35 million Victorian Government commitment with A$10 million from the Foundation, planned over five years.
Clinical Care and Family Support
The Foundation also funds projects that improve how children receive care and how families navigate treatment. These activities complement research funding by addressing practical needs within hospitals and support services. Its 2024/25 portfolio included clinical research, hospital and research staff, laboratory consumables, clinical care and family services across Australia.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
One research example is the Childhood Cancer Model Atlas, developed at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. The Foundation reports investing more than A$7 million over more than seven years toward work that helped create this open-source resource for cancer researchers worldwide.
A recent clinical care example is the Patient Navigator role at Monash Children’s Cancer and Haematology Centre. Operating since July 2026, the position provides families with a consistent contact for appointments, communication and coordination across services. The Foundation committed funding for at least three years.
The role illustrates how philanthropic funding can support everyday care alongside longer-term research ambitions, helping families manage a complex treatment journey.
Conclusion
The Children’s Cancer Foundation combines childhood cancer research funding with investment in clinical care and family support. Its history of parent-led advocacy continues through partnerships that connect researchers, health services, donors and families.
For potential applicants, understanding the distinction between its health-service grant rounds and research funding through Children’s Cancer CoLab is essential when assessing funding opportunities.
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