The Oncology Unit provides diagnosis and treatment services for children and adolescents with cancer. Patients receive a range of care and treatments including surgery and radiation therapy. A blood and bone marrow transplant service is also provided for malignant and non-malignant conditions.

The Oncology Service is a statewide service (including northern New South Wales) that:

• Develops treatment plans, including shared-care plans for regional hospitals, and provides comprehensive support for patients with cancer (aged 0-18) and their families.
• Cares for oncology inpatients in a dedicated unit.
• Provides access to radiotherapy through the co-located Radiation Oncology Mater Centre.
• Manages patients requiring bone marrow transplant for cancer and other conditions.
• Provides outpatient and day care for patients within a dedicated Oncology Day Care Unit (5c), with onsite general anaesthetic theatre lists.
• Provides Oncology outreach clinics for regional hospitals in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Nambour and the Gold Coast.
• Leads and coordinates telehealth services for its patients.
• Works closely with the central team of the Queensland Youth Cancer Service for adolescent cancer patients.
• Provides a statewide Palliative Care service with 24-hour support as well as bereavement support for families.

Where to get help after a cancer diagnosis

There are a range of support services available for children and young people with cancer and their families. Find out where to get help with accommodation, counselling, education, financial assistance, transport and peer support on our Support – Who can help page.

Clinics

Oncology clinic
Level 5 (5c), Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane 4101
Monday to Friday  |  7.30am–7pm

Outreach services
Regular outreach services are also provided in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Nambour and Gold Coast for oncology patients.

Shared care arrangements
Shared care arrangements for low-risk treatment and supportive care occur at 10 hospitals throughout Queensland including:

• Cairns
• Townsville
• Mackay
• Rockhampton
• Bundaberg
• Hervey Bay
• Nambour
• Toowoomba
• Logan
• Gold Coast

This is coordinated by the Queensland Children’s Hospital Oncology Services consultant.

Who can access this service?

Children and adolescents suspected of, or who have been diagnosed with, cancer are accepted up to their 18th birthday.

The Queensland Children’s Hospital also provides follow up care for children and adolescents who have completed treatment.

Catchment area

The Oncology Service at the Queensland Children’s Hospital is the tertiary centre for all children and adolescents with cancer in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Do I need a referral?

You will need a formal referral to access this service.

How do I get a referral?

Referrals are accepted from:

• general practitioners
• paediatric specialists
• hospital-based medical officers.

Other referral information

If you have concerns that your child has cancer, an urgent medical assessment should be sought with your local GP, paediatrician or Emergency department.

Children that have been referred to the Oncology Service may be admitted as an inpatient on the same day as their diagnosis.

Hospital support services are available to help families cope with their child’s diagnosis.

Please contact the Oncology Day Unit to confirm or change appointments.
t: 07 3068 2060

Information for health professionals

The Oncology Service provides diagnosis and treatment services for children and adolescents (aged 0-18) with cancer, including comprehensive multi-disciplinary and psychosocial support for patients and their families and shared-care plans for regional hospitals. Services include the Blood and Marrow Transplant Service and a statewide Paediatric Palliative Care Service with 24-hour support as well as bereavement support.

The Oncology Service is a statewide service (including northern New South Wales) that:

• Develops treatment plans, including shared-care plans for regional hospitals, and provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary and psychosocial support for cancer patients (aged 0-18) and their families.
• Cares for oncology inpatients in a dedicated unit.
• Provides access to radiotherapy through the co-located Radiation Oncology Mater Centre and surgery services within the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
• Manages patients requiring haemopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) for malignant and non-malignant conditions.
• Provides ambulatory care including review and treatment for patients within a dedicated Oncology Day Care Unit (5c), including on site general anaesthetic theatre lists for lumbar punctures, intrathecal chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirates and other minor procedures.
• Provides Oncology outreach clinics for regional hospitals in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Nambour and the Gold Coast.
• Leads and coordinates telehealth services for its patients.
• Works closely with the central team of the Queensland Youth Cancer Service for adolescent cancer patients.
• Provides a statewide Palliative Care service with 24-hour support as well as bereavement support.
• Provides clinical network management, including education and support, with 10 Shared Care Units and other regional centres throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Referral instructions

If you suspect a child has cancer, make a phone call to the paediatric oncologist on call to facilitate an urgent assessment.

Urgent referrals
For urgent referrals please contact the relevant Leukaemia/Lymphoma or Solid Tumour Service consultant on call via the hospital switchboard.
t: 07 3068 1111

The Oncology Service accepts both public and private patients.

Who may benefit from this service

Children who have inherited conditions that make them more susceptible to cancer e.g. Li Fraumeni Syndrome.

Useful links

Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group
Brain Child Foundation
Camp Quality
Cancer Australia – Children’s cancer website
Cancer Council Queensland
CanTeen
Childhood Cancer Support
Children’s Oncology Group
Curesearch
Leukaemia Foundation
Make a Wish
RedKite
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Starlight Foundation

Our team

Director

Dr Wayne Nicholls MBBS, FRACP, MBChB

Senior Medical Officers

Dr Pasquale Barbaro MBBS, FRCPA, FRACP
Dr Simon Brown MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, FRACP, FRCPA
Dr Steven Foresto MBBS, FRACP, BPharm
Dr Chris Fraser MBBS, FRACP M.P.J. (Monash Uni.)
Dr Tim Hassall MBBS, FRACP
Dr Anthony Herbert MBBS, FRACP, Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine
Dr Helen Irving MBBS, FRACP, Masters of Bioethics
Dr Margaret Little MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Dr Liane Lockwood MBBS, FRACP
Dr Kristy Mccarthy MBBS, FRACP, Bsc (Biomed) Hons, Dip Child Health
Dr Andrew Moore MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Dr Jeremy Robertson MBBS, FRACP, FRACPA
Dr John Roy MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA
Dr Rick Walker BMedSc, MBBS, GradCert (Adol Health), FRACP
Dr Morag Whyte MB ChB, MRCP, FRACP
Dr Peter Wilson MBBS, LMCC (Canada), FRACP