Accommodation thru You Can Stay if aged 15-29 for rural/regional/remote cancer patients
As well as Fuel and Accommodation available thru IPTAAS (see Patients Assistance Travel Schemes - rebates & rules as at July 2025 | BCNA Online Network), I've only just heard about this service being available to those of us living in Rural, Regional and Remote areas of Australia ... the only proviso is that you or your child is aged between 15-29 at the time of the cancer diagnosis. This means the family can stay together in apartment style accommodation, to support the patient - for up to 6 months - which may be extended on a case by case reassessment after 5 months. https://www.sonyfoundation.org/what-we-do/you-can The You Can Stay Accommodation Scheme provides free accommodation to 15 – 29 year old cancer patients who live in regional and rural areas in Australia who need to travel to the major cities for appropriate cancer treatment services that are not available closer to home. This Scheme is supported by individuals, sporting groups (eg Tour De Cure) and corporations (eg Sony Foundation Australia) They ask that: When a patient is accepted on to the You Can Stay program, we ask that they, and their referring clinician assist with completing some forms for Sony Foundation to secure a rebate from the government to offset some of the costs (Patient Accommodation & Travel Rebate) eg IPTAAS/all state Travel Schemes. Check out all the Drop Down Menus here - (there are camps available for children with disabilities too.) https://www.sonyfoundation.org/youcanstay 'YOU CAN FERTILITY REFERRAL HUB' - Here you can find more information on fertility preservation options for cancer patients. You Can Fertility is a national oncofertility program for 13–30-year-olds in partnership with The National Ovarian and Testicular tissue Transport and Cryopreservation Service (NOTTCS) at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne and Sony Foundation. https://www.sonyfoundation.org/youcanfertility Accommodation Information: https://d2xo9fq8pkrf30.cloudfront.net/726c4c84b39f4492760ee9ac26cbc685.pdf Quest Properties Supporting You Can Stay: https://d2xo9fq8pkrf30.cloudfront.net/6d7ec98748fc1d031e93d9985e750284.pdf Frequently Asked Questions: https://d2xo9fq8pkrf30.cloudfront.net/082d96a0c81ca7698f8715c187f3551a.pdf They even have Holiday Camps for children with a disability, to give the parents 'time out' .... https://www.sonyfoundation.org/what-we-do/childrens-holiday-camps Check out their most recent publication - SHOUT Spring 2025: https://d2xo9fq8pkrf30.cloudfront.net/e250387a59c4010e4635ff0e83c36b42.pdf Please share this information with your family & friends who live in Rural, Regional or Remote areas of Australia ..... it may be a wonderful support to them, if they need to travel to the Major Cities for cancer treatment
Navigating the minefield
I fall outside the norm. I live in a motorhome with no fixed abode. I had a GP in Maclean, first mammogram in Coffs Harbour, biopsy at Sydney Breast Clinic, 2 x surgery at Lifehouse, scan and drain at Goulburn then referred to Canberra for radiation. I chose Canberra because they have accom attached to the hospital and caravan parks in the city as a back-up. After reorganising my life to stay put for 2 months, I've just been told that the waiting list for Canberra radiation is 6-8 weeks so they have shunted me back to Sydney. Does anyone know which hospitals have accom attached to them as there are no caravan parks in the city. Has anyone stayed in the accom? What's it like? (the rooms in Canberra looked like cells).
