Volunteers from our network of 60 branches across country NSW came
together for the Can Assist Branch Leadership Conference at the Sydney Swans HQ.

The Can Assist Branch Leadership Conference highlighted what makes the organisation unique: local communities supporting local people through some of life’s toughest challenges.

With around 15,000 new cancer diagnoses across regional and rural NSW each year, many patients and families continue to face significant barriers, including travel for treatment, accommodation costs, lost income and limited access to services. In his keynote address, Dr Joe McGirr, Independent Member for Wagga Wagga and Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health, described Can Assist as “the premier grassroots organisation for cancer care in New South Wales … a beacon of hope.” While cancer treatments continue to improve, he emphasised that practical community support remains essential.

Dr Joe McGirr and Daniel Ashton – President Can Assist Tweed

A key focus for Can Assist is ensuring people are connected to support earlier in their cancer journey. Early assistance can help reduce financial pressure and ease the burden of travel and treatment-related costs before challenges become overwhelming. Achieving this requires stronger partnerships with GPs, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, discharge planners and specialist teams, while also increasing community awareness so more people know help is available.

This theme of early intervention was reinforced throughout the conference. Daniel Ashton, Aboriginal Health Performance and Project Analyst with Northern NSW Local Health District and President of the Tweed Can Assist Branch, highlighted the importance of awareness and timely referrals, noting that some people still miss out on support because they are not connected soon enough.

To better support branches and volunteers, Can Assist is investing in new systems and technology, including Grassrootz, Xero, Square and HubSpot. These tools will streamline fundraising, payments and communications, reducing administration and allowing volunteers to spend more time supporting local patients and families.

Sustaining a strong volunteer network is another priority. As many communities face challenges recruiting and retaining volunteers, Can Assist is working to provide clearer roles, improved onboarding, stronger engagement and more consistent support to help branches remain active and effective.

The organisation is also simplifying governance, privacy, cyber security and compliance requirements. Practical resources, streamlined processes and ongoing support are helping volunteers manage these responsibilities with confidence while staying focused on supporting people affected by cancer.

The conference also recognised the vital contribution of partners, sponsors, donors and volunteers. Long-term supporters such as Essential Energy understand that the impact of cancer extends far beyond treatment, and that practical assistance with travel, accommodation, food and everyday living costs can make a meaningful difference for families during a difficult time.

Together, these initiatives are strengthening the Can Assist network and ensuring every donation, fundraising effort and volunteer contribution delivers the greatest possible impact.

The conference message was clear: by building on local strengths, improving support systems and working together across the network, Can Assist can reach more people earlier and continue making a significant difference for communities across country NSW.