Cancer Council Queensland

Cancer Council Queensland is the leading non-government cancer organization in Queensland, Australia. Established in 1961 as the Queensland Cancer Fund, it is an independent, community-based charity committed to reducing the impact of cancer through research, prevention, support services, and public education. It operates without government funding, relying on donations, bequests, and fundraising events to finance its initiatives. The organization is a member of Cancer Council Australia and works closely with national and international partners in cancer control efforts[1][3][4][5].

Mission and Activities

The mission of Cancer Council Queensland is to lead Queenslanders in a partnership against cancer, aiming to improve quality of life for people living with cancer and ultimately eliminate the disease. Its key priorities include:

• Funding and conducting cancer research through the Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, which houses the Epidemiology Unit, Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, and the Queensland Cancer Registry.

• Providing support services for people affected by cancer, including information and counselling, accommodation for regional patients undergoing treatment, transportation services, and assistance with financial and legal matters.

• Advocating for cancer prevention and early detection to reduce cancer incidence across the state.

• Delivering education programs and community awareness campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles and cancer screening.

Cancer Council Queensland employs approximately 200 staff members and engages over 1,300 volunteers statewide. It operates eight offices and five accommodation lodges to support patients traveling for treatment[1][2][3][4].

Fundraising and Community Engagement

As a charity without government funding, Cancer Council Queensland depends on the generosity of the Queensland community through donations and fundraising events. It collaborates with other Cancer Council organizations across Australia to run signature fundraising campaigns such as:

• Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

• Relay For Life

• Daffodil Day

• Call To Arms

• Girls Night In

• The Star Gold Coast

Additionally, it organizes events like Challenge for Cancer, Dress Down Day, and Clip for Cancer to engage the community in supporting cancer control efforts[4].

History

The organization was founded in 1961 as the Queensland Cancer Fund with the purpose of purchasing medical equipment for the Queensland Radium Institute. On 1 May 2007, it was renamed Cancer Council Queensland to align with other state cancer organizations and adopted the daffodil, a widely recognized symbol of hope in cancer awareness, replacing its original caduceus logo. Since its inception, it has evolved into a comprehensive cancer control organization addressing multiple facets of cancer care and prevention[1][4].

Affiliations

Cancer Council Queensland is a member of the Cancer Council Federation and Cancer Council Australia. It also works in global affiliation with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), contributing to international efforts to combat cancer[1][3].

Note: This article is based on publicly available information as of April 2025.

[1] https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/about-cancer-council/qld [2] https://cancerqld.org.au [3] https://cancerqld.org.au/about-us/ [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_Council_Queensland [5] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/0655bad9-39af-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/profile