The Otis Foundation
Based in VICProvides free retreat accommodation for people facing breast cancer, a space to relax and reconnect with loved ones.
- Retreats
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
Cancer support groups close to home
Cancer support groups help people through treatment with retreats, transport, therapy and a friendly face. These six are smaller local charities that don't always get the spotlight. Back one in about a minute, and 100% of your donation goes to them.
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What cancer support groups do
Cancer support groups look after the person, not just the illness. They cover the practical side, like transport to treatment, somewhere to stay and help with bills, and the emotional side too: counselling, therapy and people who get it.
Many of the big cancer names focus on research. Smaller groups often work locally, in places like Mildura, Toowoomba or the Canberra region, helping families they know by name. Australia has around 60,000 charities, and a handful get most of the donations, so smaller groups rely on local supporters.
Want to spread your support further? Our guide to the best charity to donate to in Australia spotlights smaller charities across every cause.
- Practical helpTransport, accommodation and help with bills during treatment.
- Emotional supportCounselling, therapy and people who understand.
- Support for familiesCare for parents, partners and kids affected by cancer.
Six smaller cancer support charities to back
Each one is ACNC-registered and listed on Tap4Change. Tap a card to see their profile, their latest updates and how to give.
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Cancer Patients Foundation
Based in NSWRuns Look Good Feel Better, with free workshops and Confidence Kits to help people manage the physical and emotional side effects of treatment.
- Confidence workshops
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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Childhood Cancer Support
Based in QLDProvides accommodation, transport and therapeutic support in Brisbane for families affected by childhood cancer.
- Family support
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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Sunraysia Cancer Resources
Based in VICOffers information, financial help, accommodation bookings and support groups for people diagnosed with cancer in Mildura and the region.
- Support groups
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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Hope Horizons
Based in QLDProvides free allied health services to people with cancer in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, funded by its own fundraising.
- Allied health
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group
Based in NSWGives financial help and social support to local people with cancer during treatment, across Canberra and nearby towns like Braidwood and Bungendore.
- Local support
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
Want a different charity? Search all 60,000+ charities. How we picked these six: from Tap4Change's charity data, we took charities that provide support services for people with cancer, rated 2 or 3 stars with a complete profile, with annual donations under $1 million. We ranked them by their most recent annual donations and left out large national brands and research-only funds.
A thank you perk from brands that do good
Some donations come with a thank you perk from a partner brand, like a voucher or a free product. It's a small thanks for showing up, never the reason to give. Offers change often, so check what's on when you donate.
See brands that do goodBring your mates along
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When a cancer support group matters most
Cancer brings a lot of hard days. These are the moments smaller support groups show up, and the charities above already do.
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Straight after diagnosis
Information and a local support group help people know what comes next.
Sunraysia Cancer Resources runs support groups in Mildura -
During treatment
Help with appearance and confidence can make treatment feel more manageable.
Cancer Patients Foundation runs Look Good Feel Better -
When a child is sick
Somewhere to stay near hospital takes pressure off the whole family.
Childhood Cancer Support provides family accommodation in Brisbane -
Time to breathe
A free retreat gives people space to rest and reconnect.
The Otis Foundation offers free retreat stays
What your donation actually pays for
Your donation pays for the practical things that make treatment easier: transport, a bed near hospital, help with bills, therapy sessions and support group meetings. Smaller charities rely on local donations to keep these services free for the families who need them.
Programs listed come from each charity's details in Tap4Change's charity data. For how fees, ACNC registration and tax receipts work, see the Tap4Change FAQs, the ACNC Charity Register and the ATO's gifts and donations guide.
Cancer support questions, answered
How do I find a cancer support group near me?
Start with the type of cancer and where you live. Many support groups are run by small local charities, like the ones above in Mildura, Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Canberra region. Hospitals and treatment centres can often point you to one too.
On Tap4Change you can search all 60,000+ charities by name or cause to find groups in your area.
Why donate to a smaller cancer charity?
Australia has around 60,000 charities, and a handful get most of the donations. Smaller groups often run on local support, so your gift helps keep services like transport, accommodation and counselling free for families nearby.
Big research charities matter too. If you'd like to back both, a monthly gift to a smaller group is a simple way to spread your support.
Are donations to cancer support groups tax deductible?
Yes, if the charity you choose is eligible. Tax deductibility is shown at the top of each charity's page on Tap4Change. Donations to a charity endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), and covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, are tax deductible.
All six charities on this page are marked as tax deductible in our charity data. You can download your receipt from your profile to claim it at tax time.
What else can I do for someone with cancer?
Practical help often means the most: a lift to treatment, a cooked meal, or looking after the kids for an afternoon. Ask what would be useful rather than guessing.
You can also donate in their name to a support group that helped them. Our guide to donating to charity as a gift shows how.
What is a thank you perk, and does it change my donation?
A thank you perk is a small gesture from a brand that partners with Tap4Change, such as a voucher or a free product, offered with some donations. Your donation still goes 100% to the charity. The perk comes from the brand, and offers rotate, so what's available depends on when you give.
If you can't donate right now, reach out to the Tap4Change team at support@tap4change.org. Sharing a charity's page is a great way to help too.