COUCH Wellness Centre signs Far North MPs as champions while pushing for sustainable model
A haven for cancer battlers in its final days of government funding is putting aside its financial concerns to steam ahead with a plan to keep its doors and much-needed services open.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A haven for cancer battlers in its final days of government funding is putting aside its financial concerns to steam ahead with a plan to keep its doors and much-needed services open.
Cairns Organisation United For Cancer Health Wellness Centre will receive its final tranche of funding from the Primary Health Network this month, before the organisation becomes solely reliant on donations to provide its critical support services to cancer patients.
However, COUCH chairman Dr Scott Davis said the organisation was nearing completion of a business case which could potentially set the centre up to “be less reliant on government funding”.
“But in the short term we still have a gap,” he said.
It comes as the Far North’s Cairns-based state members of parliament signed up to become champions of COUCH ahead of a March 21 roundtable where plans will be discussed to identify viable, long-term pathways so that the service could continue to bridge critical gaps in care and enhance patients’ lives.
Cook MP David Kempton, Barron River MP Bree James, Cairns MP Michael Healy and Mulgrave MP Terry James acknowledged the services COUCH provided and its desperate need for further community support.
“We recognise this and that’s why we’re stepping up and supporting COUCH. However, we urge other businesses and individuals to support urgently otherwise we will lose it,” the MPs said in a statement.
Dr Davis said the newly-found support was evidence the wellness centre was above politics, but was hopeful of government funding announcements with the forthcoming federal election.
“We’ve approached all the various parties at a state and federal level and that’s ongoing dialogue, but the community has really stepped up and demonstrated there is strong support.
“But that’s not going to sustain us for the long run.”
Dr Davis said with about 3000 cancer diagnosis in the region per year, the centre had an average of about 400 patients under care, but works were underway to redesign processes and service offerings resulting from changes in funding, with a hope to build a capacity for 2000 patients.
“I’m of the belief that organisations like this need to become self-sustainable, we want to eventually move outside the realm of government support.”
The COUCH board has set a goal of raising $1.5m annually to retain and grow services which include physical therapies, mental health support and wellness programs.
In November last year the Cairns Post partnered with COUCH to raise awareness of the funding closure and launch the Champions of COUCH donation appeal.
“Since the start of our campaign we have grown our cash reserves by 40 per cent which reinforces how important COUCH is to the Far North.
“We have something other regions much larger than us are envious of. It’s unique, innovative and effective in helping people and their families in their cancer journey and they are telling us they need and want us here.”
Go to www.couch.org.au to become a Champion of COUCH for $2700 a year.
More Coverage
Originally published as COUCH Wellness Centre signs Far North MPs as champions while pushing for sustainable model
Funding cut a flat note for tourism
International tourists are desperate for more adventure options in Cairns, as the region’s premier tourism group prepares to have 70 per cent of its funding slashed on June 30.
Mareeba carving fork armed robber: “doomed to fail”
Mareeba father, Christopher Jamie Lee Teece, 33, has been sentenced to jail after admitting to an armed robbery at a Mareeba bottle shop with a carving fork and kitchen knife in a crime the court heard was “doomed to fail” and “planned, but not very well”.