About The SolarisCare Foundation
The SolarisCare Foundation was founded by Dr David Joske, Head of the Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in September 2001 for the specific purpose of providing supportive care to all people with cancer, their families and carers in Western Australia.
“When everything is under a cloud – jobs, friendships, relationships, lifestyle and indeed life itself – we ask people diagnosed with cancer to negotiate hospital mazes, learn a whole new language and something about biology and then make a choice on treatment”.
Dr David Joske
The SolarisCare Foundation Cancer Support Centres provide a safe and welcoming place where cancer patients and their carers can drop-in to receive information and choose to have therapeutic touch from a range of over 15 complementary therapies provided by volunteer professional therapists.
The Cancer Support Centres are fully integrated with mainstream medical care and aim to provide patients with practical skills to cope with the emotional and physical side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Offering support, educational material and complementary therapy sessions, (e.g. massage, reiki, counselling) for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment, regardless of age, gender, type of cancer, or socio economic group.
“a soft place to fall when the world around you is crumbling.”
In 2006 over 4000 free treatments were provided to cancer patients and their carers by a dedicated team of over 90 SolarisCare volunteers. It is now evident that with the positive response and ongoing heavy demand for complementary therapies plus the support from nurses, doctors and hospital administrations that the SolarisCare Cancer Support Centres are changing the face of cancer care in Western Australia.