Caring for you

Social workers care for patients and families' social and emotional needs and help them deal with the impact of diagnosis, admission to hospital, and treatment. They can help children with cancer and their families deal with what they are experiencing. 

How we can help

Having a child in hospital can be a stressful time. It can be helpful to have someone outside your family who is aware of the impact that illness and hospitalisation have on children and their families.

Social workers can talk to you about:

• Adjusting to illness and injury
• Coping with stress
• Grief and loss
• Safety and crisis intervention
• Using the hospital and community services
• Concerns about your child's development or behaviour

Our services

Social workers coordinate information and support groups and maintain links with community organisations. They can provide assessments for support, counselling and therapy, education and support groups, and information and assistance in accessing services.

Helping you to adjust and cope

Help is provided for patients, families and caregivers, as they deal with the experience of facing cancer, in a variety of ways. Social workers can provide information about resources in the hospital and the patient's community, such as translation assistance, and help navigate cultural issues. They can assist in coping with the initial diagnosis, throughout the whole course of treatment, and also teach relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. Meetings can be organised with patients and members of their family individually, or as a family, and support groups can be recommended. Help can be provided as patients face the end of active cancer treatment and go through the transition process to regular life. Support can also be given for issues relating to the uncertainty of recurrence and living with episodic treatments.

Resources for you

You can access resources about the following here:

• Travel and Accommodation
• Bereavement Group
• Remembrance Day
• Sibling's Day
• Grief and loss resources
• Hospital based resources
• External support agencies

Contact us

Department of Social Work

We are located on Level 1, near the end of the ramp. A social worker is on call for emergencies at all times.

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Phone: (02) 9845 2641 or (02) 9845 2642