Why Cancer Education Matters

Why Cancer Education Matters

1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. It touches families, classrooms, friendships and whole communities. For children and young people, cancer can be confusing, frightening and difficult to talk about, especially when it affects a parent, sibling, friend or classmate.

One of the most persistent cancer myths among children is that cancer is contagious. Others may not understand why someone looks different after treatment, misses
school, feels tired, or needs extra support. Misunderstanding can lead to fear, isolation or even bullying. With the right educational tools, classrooms can become
more knowledgeable, caring and inclusive.

Camp Quality’s Cancer Education Program helps children and young people understand cancer in a safe, age-appropriate and supportive way. For more than 30
years, Camp Quality has helped schools and early learning centres create more empathetic communities by dispelling myths, reducing fear and encouraging
compassion through its free program offerings.

At the National Education Summit, Camp Quality will give educators a practical and engaging introduction to the Cancer Education Program and how it can support
students from early learning through to secondary school.

In this 30-minute session, we’ll share the tools and resources available to schools, including:

• Live Puppet Shows for early learning centres and primary schools, using humour, storytelling and much-loved characters to explain cancer, treatment and what it means
  to be a supportive friend.
• Bloom, our award-winning web series for students aged 12–16, which follows 16-year-old Jasmine’s cancer experience through the eyes of a patient, sibling, parent and friend.
• Kids’ Guide to Cancer, a child-friendly digital resource that helps children and families understand cancer in clear, accessible language, with multilingual options available.
• Curriculum-aligned educational resources, designed to help teachers continue learning in the classroom through structured activities, discussion prompts and lesson materials.

Attendees will also experience a brief live performance from the Camp Quality Puppets and view part of the Bloom web series, giving them first-hand insight into how these resources engage students with warmth, honesty and care.

The resources in the Camp Quality Cancer Education Program suite are designed to be age appropriate and reflect the realities of living with cancer. Bloom, for example, was developed through a co-design process involving young people and families with experience of cancer, healthcare professionals, psychologists, educators, and curriculum specialists. The stories are authentic, accurate and impactful.

Students who have accessed Camp Quality’s Cancer Education Program and resources become more informed, better able to support others, and more confident responding to cancer affects in their community