Letter to Mr Brumby

6^th May 2010
The Hon John Brumby
Premier of Victoria
1 Treasury Place
East Melbourne  VIC  3002

Dear Mr Brumby

The Gawler Foundation would like to congratulate you on the very generous funding to the Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre at the Austin Hospital.  This is indeed a very strong commitment to the ongoing health and wellbeing of all cancer patients in Victoria.

You may not be aware that The Gawler Foundation has been providing services such as those planned for the ONJ-Wellness Centre for over 28 years.  Indeed The Foundation established and ran Australia's first Cancer Support Group in 1981 and has continued to do so in Victoria since that time.  In addition to the Support Groups, we have conducted a 12 week Cancer Living Well program for over 25 years. 

Consistent with the principles of integrative medicine, our 'Living Well' programs apply a self-help approach designed to improve both quantity and quality of life. Our residential and non residential programs enable participants to make informed, effective choices and better manage their own situation through workshops teaching meditation (for stress management and stillness) and nutrition (to support the body' immune system), as well as providing support to work through issues relating to their emotional, spiritual and psychological needs.  Participants in The Gawler Foundation programs find real hope and empowerment through attending our programs.

Over the past couple of years, we have focused on broadening our outreach program to enable more people with cancer in lower socio-economic areas to access our non residential support groups and programs. In 2009, we have programs running in Footscray, Dandenong/Springvale and Hawthorn. Through a series of bursaries we have been able to offer this service to people with Health Care Cards at a greatly reduced rate ($40 for 12 week program).  We fund this through the generosity of our supporters and most recently through a generous gift from the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation.

Our simple goal is to make our programs available to all Victorians who are dealing with cancer.  For over 25 years we have worked hard toward this goal without any Government funding at all. (We did receive a modest grant of $15,000 over a decade ago)  We believe that the promotion of lifestyle based approaches to cancer care, in conjunction with more mainstream treatment will not only improve health outcomes for Victorians with cancer, but will also reduce the already overburdened health budget.

Cancer patients need to have a range of options available to them.  We recognise and applaud your initiatives in funding and supporting the Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre at the Austin.  Olivia's own journey with cancer changed the way she viewed cancer care and the Wellness Centre is testimony to this and the need for treatment options which are integrated and holistic.

Mr Brumby I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your representative in the near future to explore how The Gawler Foundation can work with you to help more Victorians get the very best of cancer care through an integrated approach to health, healing and wellbeing.

Yours sincerely

Karin Knoester

Chief Executive Officer

CC Daniel Andrews MLA, Minister for Health.