Background: Childhood cancer places significant financial pressures on Australian families due to high out-of-pocket costs and lost income associated with caregiving responsibilities. Financial toxicity is increasingly recognised as a major consequence, affecting long-term wellbeing. Through Redkite’s Financial Assistance Program (FAP), families can access immediate financial assistance following their child’s diagnosis, during treatment and in the immediate post-treatment period. Supporting over 1,300 families annually, the program uses a tiered model that allocates support according to family circumstances and indicators of financial vulnerability, promoting equitable access to support. This study aimed to understand families’ experiences of Redkite’s FAP, examine the impacts of recent cost-of-living pressures on program utilisation, and identify opportunities for improving systems of support.
Methods: Using data collected in Redkite’s 2024 Family Voices Survey (n=307), we explored families experiences of accessing Redkite’s FAP. In parallel, we examined trends in program utilisation coinciding with recent cost-of-living pressures in Australia using administrative program data.
Results: Redkite’s FAP is achieving positive outcomes for families, with 98% (n=288) reporting being satisfied with the program and 96% (n=279) reporting it reduced immediate financial stress. Across 2025 and 2026, there has been an increase in eligible applications for higher needs assistance (e.g., where families experience situations such as low income, risk of homelessness or food insecurity), applying pressure on available resources. In 2025, approved higher needs applications increased by 21% when compared to 2024, and this elevated demand has continued into 2026.
Conclusion: Redkite’s tiered FAP provides an essential safety net for families experiencing financial distress during their childhood cancer journey. However, while the program helps alleviate acute financial hardship, it is insufficient to fully offset the broader economic burden. Redkite is advocating for improved financial and employment supports for families affected by childhood cancer, including access to fit-for-purpose income support and enhanced employment protections.