In 2020, a very generous donation was made to support the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse rural and regional head and neck cancer clinics throughout New South Wales, by funding a new Rural and Regional Care Coordinator.

In NSW, people with head and neck cancer who live in rural and regional areas face poorer outcomes and higher mortality rates than those living in metropolitan areas.

Since 2017, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has worked to lessen this disparity in outcomes by establishing clinics for head and neck cancer in a number of regions across NSW. These clinics enable patients not only to access specialised treatments and services, but to receive post-treatment follow up and care from home.  

The rural and regional care coordinator helps to grow and establish clinics in new areas, and provide hands-on support to existing clinics to ensure they provide a consistently high level of care to patients.

Tania Dawson, the newly-appointed Rural and Regional Care Coordinator, says: “I want to thank our donor for this immeasurable gift. Making rural and regional patients feel safe and ensuring the best possible care is available to them in their location is important.”

Tania Dawson