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 the past five 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 eight 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.
This year, Chronic Care Australia has partnered with the Australian Sports Foundation to enable tax-deductible donations to help fund our much-needed, and appreciated, community programs. We are delighted with this partnership, as it helps us all remember and ensures the longevity of one of CCA’s founding social and ethical pillars — our Care Currency.
By considering a charitable, tax-deductible donation to support these programs and help us reach our initial target of $17k of Care Currency, 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:
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 Louise Wilson was an Australian sports journalist, radio and television broadcaster and personality. Rebecca died from breast cancer in 2016. Her continuous support of the underdog and the truth as a journalist lives on in this program.
This program represents the start of a campaign to insure all those with breast cancer have access to exercise as medicine to improve their treatment outcomes, survival and quality of life. The recipient of this program is someone who embodies the characteristics of Rebecca Wilson. 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. Everybody loved Jason. This program brings awareness and empowerment to young men and women balancing chronic mental health challenges with the pressures of young adulthood.
This is awarded to someone of outstanding potential and capability who embodies and demonstrates a love of sports and competition in the way that Jason did with his love of tennis.
Michael Lawrence Program
(Mental Health)
The Michael Lawrence mental health community program is to bring awareness and empowerment to young men and women balancing chronic mental health challenges with the pressures of young adulthood. Loved dearly by his friends and family, Michael had a sharp wit and great sense of humor. Above all, 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 at everything he turned his hand to. This Community Program is awarded to someone of an outstanding potential and capability who embodies and demonstrates great strength and compassionate nature.
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; no problem was too big to solve for Sue and every person was worthy.
Sue lived life with kindness, compassion and joy at the forefront, always seeing the beauty surrounding her. This program is awarded to someone who embodies the same generosity of spirit and courage to make the most out of every inch of life.
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. He was very proud of all his children and grandchildren. He suffered COPD and heart arrhythmia which made life very hard for him in his later years. It was difficult for him to just walk some days.
Peter had a big heart, and was the clinic’s biggest advocate. Because of his big heart, the Eastwood family would like to provide another person support and offer them an avenue to improve their wellbeing as they progress through treatment to overcome their illness.
Sally Cook Program
(Oncology)
Sally Cook was passionate about always being in top form, having high energy and sharing her wisdom far and wide. Chronic Care Australia was an invaluable space that supported Sally’s drive for wholesome wellbeing throughout her magnanimous life. Sally’s family would love to share the support with another person so they too can feel their best.
This program represents the start of a campaign to insure all those with breast cancer have access to exercise as medicine to improve their treatment outcomes, survival and quality of life. The recipient of this program is someone who embodies the characteristics of Sally. Someone who has the vibrancy, high enthusiasm and is committed to making the most of life.
Sarah Shellabear Program
(Stroke)
Bringing awareness to appropriate screening and open discussions about the risk of stroke in women. Sarah was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was the most caring, kind and humble human and had such a big impact on so many people’s lives, even those who only knew her from seeing her walking the dogs around the neighbourhood.
This Program is in loving memory of one of Mosman Park and Peppermint Grove’s most generous, caring, vibrant and valuable community member.
Paul Thorp Program
(Oncology)
When we talk about Paul, there’s always two “things” at the top of the list – people and sport. He loved people, he could start up a conversation with anyone, anytime. He could always find an engaging topic and he was always funny! It was a real talent of his to remember little details about people.
Paul loved sport – playing sport, watching sport, talking about sport. You name it, he knew about it. Paul still had so much to give and a lot of life to live when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.