Toowoomba Hospital Foundation in partnership with Darling Downs Health has launched a multi-year campaign to raise $10 million for a planned new Regional Cancer Centre, with the view the project will be finished in time to support the new Toowoomba Hospital.
The project aims to create a fit-for-purpose Cancer Centre that brings together the people, equipment, expertise, and services needed for the treatment and care of patients from across the Darling Downs Health Service region and further afield.
It is envisioned the new Regional Cancer Centre will cost an estimate of $20million to build. The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation has partnered with Darling Downs Health to help fund the project committing to match-funding of up to $10 million.
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy said for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer or knows someone diagnosed with cancer, the environment where they receive care is so important.
“Our Medical Oncology and Cancer Care Services at Toowoomba Hospital do an amazing job, but over time the number of patients they are seeing has grown, the need for additional services has grown, and the current unit is starting to show its age,” she said.
“So, the need to improve the environment where our region’s patients are receiving cancer care is something that we are keen to be involved in.
“Having cancer and going on that journey is already so stressful, so it’s hoped that the new Regional Cancer Centre as a stand-alone facility will make it easier for patients, more comfortable, and have everything they need under the one roof for their treatment with Darling Downs Health.
“We’re not going to be able to do this without the support of our community right across the Darling Downs, whether you fundraise, donate, or would like to contribute in other ways please get in touch.”
Rebecca Johnson, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023 and is currently undergoing treatment and care with the Toowoomba Hospital Medical Oncology Unit.
“I’ve had friends and family with cancer and until I went through it, I just never knew how hard it really was,” she said.
“I’m 43, and I’ve had to give up work, which I love. I’ve had to give up doing my markets and my craft because I just can’t keep up.
“As a mum the last thing that you want to do is leave your kids with not being there. I said to Harry, my Oncologist, you’ve got to get me through this I can’t leave them. They need their Mum.
“Having a Regional Cancer Care Centre here – you don’t know it until you’re in it right? It's really hard to put into words, how convenient and less stressful it would make an already stressful situation. I think having that closeness and having everyone being able to do everything in the one spot without having to run around - it just makes our lives just a little bit easier, because it's tough. It's hard already.
“If I can turn this into something that helps one other person then I’ll be eternally grateful.”
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM said the new Regional Cancer Centre will play an important role in ensuring the continuity of services when the new Toowoomba Hospital opens in late 2027.
“The new Toowoomba Hospital will service the Darling Downs and South Burnett communities from late 2027, so it is important that ancillary services, like cancer care, are available for the community at the same location,” Ms Scott said.
“With increasing demand on our cancer services it is important that we have a new, purpose built facility that is not only state-of-the-art, but in a location that is readily accessible and has a peaceful amenity to it.
“This project is a large undertaking and to have the support of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is reflective of our longstanding working relationship in the pursuit of positive health outcomes in our communities.”
Visit our Regional Cancer Centre webpage for more information and to donate to the campaign.
