Our impact
Supporting people across Australia.
LiveWorkCancer has supported people across Australia to stay connected to work, make informed decisions, and feel more confident navigating what comes next. This is often the first time people speak with others who truly understand what it is like to manage work and cancer at the same time.
Our impact
What people told us about the difference support made.
Top impacts, 2025
felt less isolated or alone
“It was a life saver — it gave dignity, self-love and hope in equal measures.”
felt understood and supported
“Absolutely enjoyed the support and conversations — helped me through a very challenging time at work.”
got practical, relevant support
“… better equipped to apply for jobs again, after a long break!”
gained confidence and improved wellbeing
“After 3 years, I am now ready to pursue my next work journey.”
* Source: LiveWorkCancer 2025 Participant Survey — positive responses combine “strongly agree” and “agree”.
Peer Network member
It was so great to find a group of people who understand what I am going through. The network helps me explore new career options and reminds me I’m not alone.
Peer Network member
Coaching support
Perfect help to return to work — it brings professional insights and most importantly immediate recognition and understanding. They get it and build you back up to where you see a path ahead of you. Wonderful — trust them, you will be grateful for the experience.
Coaching participant
Coaching support
Amazing support. Returning to work in a high-pressure job felt so daunting. Sue has made me realise I am not alone with this fear of not being able to return as the same person ‘pre-cancer’ — and I don’t feel shame around asking my workplace for amended responsibilities.
Coaching participant
Peer Network
A positive, compassionate space to share experiences at any stage of the cancer journey. Connecting with others brings visibility and empowerment — I only wish I’d found it sooner.
Peer Network participant
Peer Network
The network helps me explore new career options with like-minded people and reminds me I’m not alone.
Peer Network participant
Peer Network
I feel less alone through this regular engagement.
Peer Network participant
Coaching support
It was a life saver — it gave dignity, self-love and hope in equal measures.
Coaching participant
Peer Network
Quite literally giving me hope that others are rebuilding their life in terms of the value they add to society when recovering from cancer.
Peer Network participant
Coaching support
Helped me to articulate what I was experiencing and identify next steps…
Coaching participant
Coaching support
I feel really comfortable to share my story and experience in my workplace and create space for my needs without feeling like I am creating excuses.
Coaching participant
Coaching support
… better equipped to apply for jobs again, after a long break!
Coaching participant
Coaching support
Offered me a framework and structure to speak to my manager.
Coaching participant
Coaching support
Sue has been very generous with time and has a lot of wisdom having walked this journey herself and having empathy for others.
Coaching participant
Coaching support
Absolutely enjoyed the support and conversations — helped me through a very challenging time at work.
Coaching participant
Advocacy
A credible, recognised voice for work and cancer.
Our founder’s advocacy work spans formal research contributions, parliamentary submissions, consumer reviewing, and conference presentations — establishing LiveWorkCancer as a credible and recognised voice in the cancer supportive care community, with a particular focus on work and its profound impact on financial security, wellbeing, and every aspect of a person’s life — in Australia and internationally.
MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting (Melbourne) Plenary Session — “Lifestyle and Behavioral Interventions Advancing Supportive Care: Importance of Work and Play for Cancer Survivorship”
Co-chair & PresenterViewKemp, E. et al. “Factors Associated with Employment Outcomes in Cancer Survivors” — Supportive Care in Cancer
Named co-authorAustralian Patient Advocacy Alliance (APAA) Summit — Parliament House, Canberra
PresenterViewAustralian House of Representatives — “Inquiry into the Operation and Adequacy of the National Employment Standards”
Formal submissionView
Koczwara, B. et al. MASCC “Work After Cancer” White Paper
NSW Cancer Council Community Forum – Tamworth — “Work and Employment”
Financial Counselling Australia Annual Conference (Melbourne) — “When the Thief Came to Work” with Thea O’Connor
Spot TalkViewCOSA Cancer Survivorship Conference (Melbourne) — “Building Capability and Capacity in Survivorship Care and Research”
Co-chairCOSA-IPOS World Congress (Adelaide) — “Bridging the Expectation Gap: Person-Centred Work Support in Cancer Survivorship”
Poster presenter
Sprink’s Australasian Forum on Person-Centred Value-Based Health Care (Melbourne) — “A Consumer’s Perspective on Behalf of BCNA”
PresenterViewCancer Council “Cancer and Work: Cancer — An Overview” Factsheets
Named consumer reviewerViewVCCC Alliance (Webinar) — “Awareness Sparks Compassion: Navigating Work and Careers During and After Cancer”
PresenterView
BCNA Consumer Representative & Member of Inaugural Consumer Advisory Group · ongoing
Consumer representativeViewCOSA Financial Toxicity Working Group — “Reducing the Financial Toxicity of Cancer” · ongoing
Working group memberViewCOSA Financial Toxicity Think Tank (Sydney) — “Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care: Defining the Issues — My Story”
Presenter & participantCOSA Cancer Survivorship Conference (Adelaide) — “Solidarity in Survivorship: Enduring Work Participation”
Poster presenterNSW Cancer Conference (Sydney) — “Enduring Work Participation Relies on a Person-Centric Approach”
Poster presenter
Menopause@Work Asia Pacific Workplace Network (Webinar) — Breast Cancer, Medical Menopause and Workplace Accommodations — with Thea O’Connor, Menopause at Work and Dr Kelly Teagle, WellFemme
Presenter
Our reach
We reach across Australia.
Our support services are delivered online, so people can access coaching, join our peer networks and attend information forums wherever they are — from major cities to regional and remote communities.
If you are impacted by cancer, including a carer of someone with cancer, please get in touch.
If you’re a healthcare service, employer or community partner who’d like to work with us, we would love to hear from you.
Looking ahead
Growing impact where it is needed most.
Demand continues to grow. We are focused on reaching more people, strengthening support for workplaces, and continuing to build the evidence for better work and income outcomes.
Because cancer should not cost anyone their work, their confidence, or their future.