Community Programs.
Exercise medicine is one of the cheapest and well-researched forms of prevention, management, and treatment for chronic conditions. Yet many people in our communities who would benefit from clinical exercise as medicine do not have access to it. Our goal at Chronic Care Australia (CCA) is to improve the mental and physical health of all Australians with whole person treatment solutions so that they can live well for longer.
Over recent years, CCA has funded and offered our community programs in loving memory of some very special people who have touched our hearts, and the hearts of many in their communities. There are now nine different community programs dedicated to the memory of extraordinary people who valued our community and inspired the very best in everyone they encountered.
Care Currency.
Chronic Care Australia partners with the Australian Sports Foundation to enable tax-deductible donations to help fund our community programs. We call donations to the program our Care Currency.
By considering a charitable, tax-deductible donation you can help improve health equity and improve the lives of Australians who are living with complex chronic conditions. Please click the link below to visit CCA’s donation page on the Australian Sports Foundation website.
If you are an organisation or an individual associated with a PAF fund, and would like to learn more about this pioneering approach to health equity in the workplace and our community, please contact Lisa Rowley lisa@chroniccare.com.au or Katie Stewart katie@chroniccare.com.au
How to apply.
Applicants awarded these programs receive the opportunity to attend Chronic Care Australia’s face-to-face or Virtual Clinic for six months (free of charge) at any stage during their treatment plan; be it at diagnosis, during treatment or post treatment.
During their program, successful applicants will work closely with our clinical team, gaining tools and knowledge of exercise medicine to improve their quality of life and reduce the side effects and symptoms of their primary varied chronic conditions. CCA will work closely, as part of the successful applicants’ multidisciplinary healthcare team.
If you have a patient, community member and/or employee who has one of the chronic conditions below, and would benefit from comprehensive allied health care treatment, please go to our website below.
KEY DATES FOR 2025:
1 March, 2025 - Applications Open.
15 March, 2025 - Applications Close.
1 April, 2025 Recipients Announced.
8 April, 2025 - Programs commence for six months.
10 April, 2025 - Celebration of Community Programs Sundowner.
Our community programs.
Our eight community programs dedicated are to the memory of extraordinary people who valued our community and inspired the very best in everyone they encountered.
Rebecca Wilson Program
(Oncology)
Rebecca was an Australian sports journalist, radio and television broadcaster and personality. Rebecca died in 2016 after battling breast cancer. Her continuous support of the underdog and the truth as a journalist lives on in this program. This program is for someone who will work hard and dig deep, someone who is committed to making the most of life.
Jason McCarthy Program
(Mental Health)
Jason McCarthy was a talented tennis player and athlete. He had a twinkle in his eye that brought fun and adventure with it. This program is for someone of outstanding potential and capability who demonstrates a love of competition as Jason did. It aims to give support and empowerment to a young person balancing chronic mental health challenges with the pressures of young adulthood.
Michael Lawrence Program
(Mental Health)
Dearly loved by his friends and family, Michael had a sharp wit and great sense of humour. He was a kind and caring soul, always going out of his way to help others. He loved his sausage dogs, his friends and his family. Michael had great strength and was always trying hard to improve himself. This program’s driver is to give support and empowerment to a young person balancing chronic mental health challenges with the pressures of young adulthood.
Sue Townsend Program
(Oncology)
Sue spent each day on this earth thinking about others and wondering how she could help them. She had boundless empathy and would dedicate endless time to anyone who needed help or advice. This program is for someone who embodies the same generosity of spirit and courage.
Sarah Shellabear Program
(Stroke)
Sarah was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. A caring, kind and humble human, she had a big impact on many people’s lives. In offering this program, CCA together with Sarah’s family aim to increase awareness of appropriate screening and open discussions about the risk of stroke in women.
Peter Eastwood Program
(COPD)
Peter was one of the world’s true gentlemen. He treated everyone with respect and kindness. He was a good listener, very empathetic and his family always came first. Peter suffered COPD and heart arrhythmia which made life very hard for him in his later years. Peter was one of CCA’s biggest advocates.
Sally Cook Program
(Oncology)
Sally was passionate about always being in top form, having high energy and sharing her wisdom far and wide. CCA was an invaluable space for Sally supporting her drive for wholesome wellbeing throughout her magnanimous life. Sally passed from breast cancer and with this program her family and CCA want to support another person to feel the best they can with exercise as medicine.
Paul Thorp Program
(Oncology)
Paul loved people and sport. He could start up an engaging conversation with anyone, anytime and especially if sport was the topic. Paul still had so much to give and a lot of life to live when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. This program is for someone who embodies his vibrant characteristics.
Graeme ‘Snow’ McKeown Program
(Oncology)
Graeme’s passions in life were his family, his friends, his community and his sport. He had an impressive ability to network and always found great joy in meeting and connecting with new people, no matter what their background. Graeme found a safe, supportive and nurturing space at CCA during his battle with Glioblastoma and it is heartwarming for us all that with this program someone else will be offered the same.