Camp Quality
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Founded | 1983 |
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Founder | Vera Entwistle |
Focus | Children facing cancer and their families |
Origins | Sydney, Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Deborah Thomas (CEO) |
Website | campquality |
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[]
- ^ Barr, Eliza (9 December 2015). "Fitzy and Wippa celebrate Christmas with Camp Quality kids". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Cancer Council and childhood cancers". www.cancer.org.au. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Crouch, Brad (15 November 2013). "Camp Quality celebrates 30 years of helping South Australian children with cancer". The Advertiser.
- ^ Baldwin, Hannah (28 July 2017). "'Everybody's friends:' Camp Quality campers bond, don't dwell on shared cancer experiences". The News Star.
- ^ Keown, Mary Katherine (13 July 2013). "Accent: At Camp Quality 'nothing is impossible'". Sudbury Star.
- ^ "Camp Quality builds Happiness Hub, connecting children facing cancer challenges". Sector. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ Frost, Carleen (21 November 2012). "Puppets educating children on cancer". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Our reports - About us - Camp Quality". www.campquality.org.au. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- Cancer organisations based in Australia
- Cancer charities in the United States
- Organizations established in 1983