Sandra Johnston OAM
  Founder & President

WHO ARE WE:

Women’s Cancer Support – Gold Coast  initially focused on breast cancer, but after meeting a courageous member with ovarian cancer who carried the BRCA gene and also underwent a double mastectomy, it expanded to include women with all types of cancer.

Today, we are a thriving community of over 850 cancer warriors and survivors, supporting each other as a united tribe. At events, we proudly identify as the Rainbow Warriors, reflecting the diversity of our members and our collective strength.

WHERE ARE WE:

Postcodes from 4207-4230 & 4272

Our members come from postcodes 4207–4230 and 4272, and we organize them into local subgroups based on their area. Each group has a dedicated Local Mentor Coordinator who arranges meet-ups, walks, coffee catchups, lunches, and even transportation for local members.

To ensure new members feel supported, we have 2–3 Buddies in each local group. When a new member joins, they’re added to the Local Group Chat, where the Local Mentor introduces them to the group. A Buddy then offers to guide the new member, helping them navigate the group and feel welcomed.

While members are encouraged to participate in their local group, they are welcome to attend any event listed on our calendar.

We also organize members into subgroups by type of cancer, such as Brain, Colorectal, Lung, Lymphoma, or Ovarian cancers. Each of these TYPE groups has an ambassador who plays a similar role to the Local Mentor, fostering introductions and ensuring members feel connected. Members in these groups share information, such as research, trials, and treatments specific to their cancer type.

Some TYPE groups even hold their own specialized meetups. For example, the Lymphoma group, nicknamed the Greenies (after the green cancer ribbon), gathers for focused discussions or attends Lymphoma-related events together.

Through this supportive structure, we ensure every member feels part of a close-knit community while also having access to the broader group’s resources and events.

WHAT DO WE DO:

Support and Connection:
We operate a public Facebook page for sharing updates and welcoming new members. After approval, members join our private groups and receive a “Welcome to Newbies” email with information to get started. Each week, we also celebrate new members on our Facebook page.

Events and Activities
Our online calendar highlights upcoming events for members, such as pamper days, exercise classes, coffee meet-ups, lunches, and educational webcasts.

Care Packs and Headwear
Through fundraising efforts like bake sales and raffles, we provide care packs for members in the hospital. We’ve also built a collection of 80–90 wigs, caps with hair, and headwear available to lend to members.

Handmade Comfort Items
We create and donate port cushions, seatbelt cushions, chemo bags, and cold-capping headbands to members and hospitals. Additionally, we distribute dilator bags to radiation units for women undergoing pelvic radiation.

Specialized Equipment
To help prevent chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, we’ve invested in cryotherapy gloves and socks, available to lend to members. Many of our members have experienced significant benefits.
Equipment Lending
To help members avoid hire fees, we lend essential equipment such as wheelchairs, wheelie walkers, walking sticks, crutches, shower chairs, and commodes etc

Advocacy and Awareness
We advocate for better cancer care through various advisory councils, lobbying efforts, and public petitions. Current priorities include access to medicinal cannabis in hospitals and better home-based palliative care options.

Sustainability
We recycle drain bags, kidney-shaped pillows, and other items, ensuring they’re repurposed for community use whenever possible.

Annual Expo
Each year, we host an expo featuring expert speakers on topics like medicinal cannabis, cancer therapies, and more. This event empowers members with valuable knowledge and resources.

The Haven
In August 2024, we opened the Women’s Cancer Support HAVEN at 12 Nerang Street, Nerang, offering a welcoming space for members, volunteers, and practitioners. Open Monday to Friday, 9 AM–3 PM, the Haven provides free services like reiki, massage, yoga, art therapy, and more.

For support, contact us at 0422 355 711.

HOW DO WE DO IT

Care Packs
Thanks to a donation of 1,000 brown paper bags, we’ve turned them into something special. During craft sessions, members decorate, paint, and personalize the bags to make them beautiful and unique. In packing sessions, we assemble 25 care packs at a time, which are delivered by volunteers (our “Fairy Visitors”) to members in hospital.
These visits brighten our members’ days and are always warmly received.    READ MORE

Port/Seatbelt Cushions, Chemo Bags & Cold Cap Headbands
Our members come together for sewing and social days to create essential items like port cushions, chemo bags, and headbands for cold cap therapy. When there’s urgent demand, other charities also pitch in, and some members sew from home. These handmade items are delivered to chemo treatment centres, including GCUH, GC Private, Pindara, John Flynn, Icon Southport, and Tweed Hospital, ensuring patients have the comfort they need.  READ MORE

Pamper Days:
Pamper days are listed on our calendar, with links for members to register. They’re also shared as events on our Facebook page. We’re thrilled to host Look Good Feel Better workshops at the HAVEN every two months. Members who are further along in their recovery often volunteer as hairdressers, nail polishers, hand masseuses, or welcome hosts, making these events even more special. READ MORE

Wigs & Headwear :
At the HAVEN, we maintain an extensive collection of wigs, caps with hair, turbans, beanies, wraps, scarves, and headwear. Our team provides fittings to ensure members find the perfect style. Hairdressers in our group wash, trim, and condition the wigs, ensuring they are ready to wear. READ MORE

Ponchos:
The organization Beauties Feeling Fabulous (BFF) donates beautiful ponchos, which we deliver to members the day before surgery at Robina, Tweed, or private hospitals. Members can also collect their ponchos directly from the HAVEN   READ MORE

 Advocacy:

Our advocacy efforts involve attending conferences, summits, and expos to gather information and amplify our voices. We actively engage in petitions, lobbying, and addressing issues through Consumer Advisory roles. We’ve encouraged members to join Consumer Advisory Groups, ensuring representation across various platforms. One of our proudest achievements was successfully advocating for Breastscreen Qld to lower the recommended age for free mammograms from 50 to 40—a significant victory for early detection. READ MORE

were donated 1000 brown paper bags, so we hold craft sessions where we decorate, paint, and make those bags look really nice personal & pretty. We have a packing session where our group help pack 25 or so at a time. READ MORE

Port/Seatbelt Cushions
Members come together for a sewing/social day to cut out, sew, & stuff them. Sometimes other charities sew some for us when we need them asap. Some members sew them at home. One of our lovelies sews at home and our tribe delivers them to the various chemo treatment centres, including GCUH, GC Private, Pindara, John Flynn, Icon Southport & Tweed hospital. READ MORE

Pamper Days:
There are a few different pamper days we have become aware of, and these are posted on the calendar with the link to register. SOME are also listed as an EVENT on our Facebook page. Some of our members who have been well for a while, volunteer to help at the pamper days – as a hairdresser, nail polishing, hand massage and as welcome & check-in. READ MORE

Wigs & Headwear :
One of our lovelies holds our large library of wigs and headwear and can bring some to pamper days and events or meets up with lovelies to FIT the suitable wig and or headwear. She washes, trims and conditions the wigs etc. READ MORE

Ponchos:
We deliver the poncho donated by beauties Feeling Fabulous (BFF) (link: https://www.facebook.com/beautiesfeelingfabulous/)  the day before member is due for surgery at Robina, Tweed or private hospital or the member picks up a poncho from one of the members our tribe near them. READ MORE

 Advocacy:

We attend various conferences, summits, expos in relevant fields to learn information to share, and to have a ‘voice’. We do petitions, lobby and through my Consumer rep duties bring up issues needing to be fixed. We have encouraged a few members to join Consumer Advisory Groups and the like so we have a voice in a few places. READ MORE