Koala Kids is fast developing a reputation for reaching out to our friends in other paediatric oncology not-for-profit organisations to see how we might collaborate to further benefit children and young people with cancer and their families. Together with Little Big Steps we hosted the Little Big Camp in December 2019 and more recently we joined forces with Brain Wave to offer Heroes Circle, a global not for profit program out of the USA teaching children with chronic illnesses martial arts skills to manage pain.

Earlier this year, the Children’s Cancer Family Support Alliance was formed. At our second meeting we hosted Professor David Eisenstat, head of the Children’s Cancer Centre at The Royal Children’s Hospital.  In addition to sharing his excitement about working with CAR T-cells, other cellular therapies and immuno-oncology, pharmacogenomics and early phase clinical trials David provided more than 15 organizations linked by Zoom an extremely interesting and informative presentation about the state of oncology at The RCH, what services looked like during COVID, his philosophy working with family support services and those areas in which he and his team need to be focusing.

Dr Greg Wheeler, head Peter Mac Paediatric Radiotherapy Services has accepted the invitation to speak to the alliance later this month.