At Cancer Wellness Support, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our funding partners, whose support makes specialised, affordable lymphoedema care possible for our community.

Over recent years, Tour de Cure has provided a transformative $60,000 in funding to expand our lymphoedema management and support services. The James N. Kirby Foundation  has also contributed $15,000 to establish our Supervision and Mentoring pilot program for lymphoedema therapists.

Thanks to their shared commitment to improving cancer care, we are already seeing meaningful impact for both the people we support and the therapists who deliver this care.

Strengthening Care Through Innovation and Partnership

The Tour de Cure grant has enabled us to invest in specialised equipment, including the LymphaTouch machine, and to strengthen our partnership with Mt Wilga Private Hospital to deliver more advanced lymphoedema care locally.

Lymphatic fluid is much harder to move than blood, as it does not have a pump like the heart. Instead, it relies on gentle, highly specialised techniques to encourage movement. Lymphoedema massage is not a traditional massage. It involves a precise “touch, lift, touch, lift” method that requires advanced training.

The introduction of the LymphaTouch machine is a significant step forward. This technology gently lifts and stimulates tissue, helping to mobilise lymphatic fluid so it can move more freely through the body.

For clients, this often means a faster and more effective response, supporting improved outcomes. For therapists, it reduces the physical strain on their hands and bodies, supporting longevity in their roles.

Our partnership with Mt Wilga further strengthens this approach. Through access to specialist services and bandaging, clients can receive more frequent treatments over shorter periods, when the body is most responsive. Importantly, this creates true continuity of care, with Cancer Wellness Support therapists continuing specialised techniques locally.

Investing in our Workforce: Mentoring and Supervision Program

With support from the James N. Kirby Foundation, we are proud to be launching our Supervision and Mentoring pilot program – an important step in strengthening the capability, sustainability and growth of our lymphoedema therapy workforce.

A key objective of this program is to expand and strengthen our therapist pool. This includes supporting new therapists entering the field, re-engaging practitioners who have stepped away from lymphoedema care, and providing ongoing mentoring for experienced therapists to ensure their skills, knowledge and passion are sustained over time.

While structured supervision is standard practice in fields such as counselling, it is often less accessible in complementary therapies. At Cancer Wellness Support, we are committed to changing this. 

This pilot program brings together five lymphoedema therapists across a range of experience levels – from new practitioners to experienced therapists seeking renewed inspiration. 

Over a three-month period, participants will engage in regular mentoring sessions led by an Occupational Therapist, focusing on technical skill development and best-practice approaches aligned with our model of care. 

Alongside this, our Client Services Manager, Viv Maitland, will facilitate reflective practice sessions to support therapists in exploring the emotional aspects of their work, maintaining healthy boundaries, and building resilience.

Importantly, this program is fully funded through the grant, removing the financial burden that therapists would typically carry to access this level of professional development.

This approach helps ensure that specialist lymphoedema skills are not only developed, but retained within our region.

A Whole-Person Approach to Lymphoedema Care

At Cancer Wellness Support, we take a proactive, whole-person approach to lymphoedema care. Our five-pronged lymphedema management approach integrates nutrition, movement, mind, lymphoedema massage and management, and pressure garments.

While lymphoedema is a lifelong condition, it does not need to define a person’s quality of life. Massage can provide relief and comfort, but it is only one part of a broader approach.

We work alongside our clients to actively manage their condition through everyday practices, supporting the whole person, not just the symptoms.

By focusing on nutrition, movement and mental wellbeing, we aim to slow progression and reduce reliance on pressure garments, which can often feel restrictive. Our goal is to support people to live well with lymphoedema.

Real Impact for Lymphoedema Clients and Therapists

Through our partnership with Mt Wilga, clients can now access more intensive treatment schedules, leading to faster and more visible outcomes. Continuity of care has also been strengthened, with specialised techniques introduced at Mt Wilga now able to be continued locally by Cancer Wellness Support therapists.

Recently, before going into Mt Wilga, one client’s lymphoedema reading (L-Dex score) was 53.6. After their treatment at Mt Wilga and continuing treatment with Cancer Wellness Support, this reduced to 41.1, which is a strong indicator of improved fluid balance. This has significantly improved their comfort, mobility and quality of life.

For therapists, access to the LymphaTouch machine reduces the physical demands of treatment. The Supervision and Mentoring program provides vital opportunities for skill development, reflection and connection, helping therapists feel supported and confident in their work.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Tour de Cure and James N. Kirby Foundation for their generosity and shared commitment to accessible, high-quality lymphoedema care.

Through the power of community, we are continuing to strengthen care, build capability, and improve outcomes for people living with cancer.