Camp Quality

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Camp Quality
Camp Quality Landscape Logo.png
Founded1983
FounderVera Entwistle
FocusChildren facing cancer and their families
OriginsSydney, Australia
Area served
Australia
Key people
Deborah Thomas (CEO)
Websitecampquality.org.au

Camp Quality is an Australian non-governmental and non-profit organisation based in Sydney, Australia. Camp Quality aims to provide support for children living with cancer and their families.[1] Camp Quality's programs are designed specifically for children aged up to 15 years who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis (this could be their own, a sibling's or parent's). The incidence rate of childhood cancer rose by 35 per cent between 1983 and 2014 in Australia [2] - and it is expected to increase a further seven per cent over the next 20 years.[3] This means that growing numbers of children and families will need the kind of services and support programs that Camp Quality provides to help them cope with a diagnosis of cancer.

Camp Quality is registered as a charity by the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission as a public benevolent institution, and is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient.

History[]

Camp Quality was founded by Vera Entwistle in 1983. The name of the organisation was sourced from a conversation with a pediatric oncologist, who told Entwistle that "No one can do anything about the quantity of life, but we all can do something about the quality."[4]

Entwistle later introduced Camp Quality to several countries, including the United States[5] and Canada.[6]

Programs and services[]

Online programs[]

Camp Quality offers a number of online services to provide support to children dealing with cancer who are unable to access traditional face-to-face services including:

  • Puppet Digital Playdates
  • Happiness Hub [7]
  • Virtual Camps
  • Kids' Guide to Cancer app
  • New Normal Navigator app

In hospital support[]

Camp Quality funds are also used to give kids diagnosed with cancer in hospital emotional and psychological support during their treatment. These programs include:

  • Visits from Camp Quality staff
  • Visits from the Camp Quality Puppets
  • Child Life Therapy

Primary School Cancer Education Program[]

Camp Quality also runs an educational puppet show program to help children understand what it is like to have cancer.[8] The Camp Quality Puppets visit primary schools and pre-schools across Australia and perform an interactive show that aims to create an inclusive community for children who have been diagnosed with cancer, or who have a diagnosed parent or sibling, helping to reduce incidents of bullying. The Primary School Education Program also offers access to downloadable resources for teachers and parents.

Camps, Fun Days & Retreats[]

Camp Quality is best known for their camps which are run across Australia and allow kids facing cancer and their families to partake in a number of fun activities. These include

  • Kids' Camps (for children aged 4–13)
  • Family Camps
  • Kids Impacted by a Carer's Cancer (KICC) Camps
  • Family Fun Days
  • Family Experiences
  • Retreats
  • Financial Support Program

Fundraising[]

In the 2019 financial year, Camp Quality reported total income of $14.1 million, derived from events & community fundraising (28%), corporate income (24%), general donations (16%), volunteer contributions (18%), private & government grants (7%), ORANGES Toolkit revenue (4%), and bequests (3%).[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Barr, Eliza (9 December 2015). "Fitzy and Wippa celebrate Christmas with Camp Quality kids". The Daily Telegraph.
  2. ^ "Cancer Council and childhood cancers". www.cancer.org.au. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ Youlden, Danny R.; Baade, Peter D.; Green, Adèle C.; Valery, Patricia C.; Moore, Andrew S.; Aitken, Joanne F. (17 February 2020). "The incidence of childhood cancer in Australia, 1983–2015, and projections to 2035". The Medical Journal of Australia. 212 (3): 113–120. doi:10.5694/mja2.50456.
  4. ^ Crouch, Brad (15 November 2013). "Camp Quality celebrates 30 years of helping South Australian children with cancer". The Advertiser.
  5. ^ Baldwin, Hannah (28 July 2017). "'Everybody's friends:' Camp Quality campers bond, don't dwell on shared cancer experiences". The News Star.
  6. ^ Keown, Mary Katherine (13 July 2013). "Accent: At Camp Quality 'nothing is impossible'". Sudbury Star.
  7. ^ "Camp Quality builds Happiness Hub, connecting children facing cancer challenges". Sector. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ Frost, Carleen (21 November 2012). "Puppets educating children on cancer". The Daily Telegraph.
  9. ^ "Our reports - About us - Camp Quality". www.campquality.org.au. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
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