Nine-year-old Sara Lynch has spent the past three months at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick undergoing treatment for leukemia. Her family has been by her side every day even though they live six hours away in Armidale.
“The whole process is estimated to take two years to complete. There’s going to be a lot of interruptions,” Sara’s father, Matt, said.
Long periods of time in hospital often meant children missed out on extended amounts of school.
“In many ways it’s a side effect in the treatment of cancer,” Kids Cancer Centre Director Professor Glenn Marshall said.
“When they finish their treatment, go back to school, try to reintegrate into the education system, they really struggle because they want to be with their friends but they can’t be in the same year because they’ve missed a year of learning.”
But thanks to an education support program set up by the Fight Cancer Foundation, children undergoing long-term cancer treatment were able to continue studying in hospital.
“When they finish their treatment, go back to school, try to reintegrate into the education system, they really struggle because they want to be with their friends but they can’t be in the same year because they’ve missed a year of learning.”
The Back on Track program bridges the gap between the health and education system, bringing teachers directly to patients.
Up to 300 children each year will have access to the Sydney program.
“The teacher will have to be very sensitive to the needs of the child and family. There will be days where the kid doesn’t want to do some learning and other days that they do,” Professor Marshall said.
There will be communication between the home school and the Back on Track teaching program.
“It enables them to have a fulfilling life and take their place in society and puts the parents at ease” Professor Marshall said.
Celebrity couple and Fight Cancer Foundation Patrons Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness embraced the program, saying it was an important part in the fight against cancer for children.
“It’s not just about curing the cancer. It is about making sure that the self-esteem is up,” Mr Jackman said.
By allowing them to continue their studies, Ms Furness said, “every child has the possibility to reach their full potential.”
Ms Furness’ mother, Faye Duncan, is the co-founder of the Fight for Cancer Foundation.
The program had already been successfully running at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital for 8 years.
But as Professor Marshall stressed running costs relied on donations.
“It's not something that can be easily rolled out everywhere immediately but that's the hope is that all kids in Australia will benefit from this,” he said.
Listen to the SBS Radio version of this story:
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