Page 1 of 2
Phone +613 8341 6200
Fax +613 9348 1391
ABN 21 006 566 972
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia
Patron
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE
Chairman
Mr Leigh Clifford AO
Director
Professor Terry Dwyer AO MD MPH
Ambassador Sarah Murdoch
MEDIA ALERT
Embargoed 1pm 31 October 2010
PONTING’S WINNING HIT TO IMPROVE
PYSCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER
Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, his wife Rianna and Premier John Brumby have
announced $500,000 in joint funding for research led by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,
to help improve the wellbeing and mental health of children with cancer.
The Pontings, through their Ponting Foundation, and the State Government, have each
committed $250,000 over three years to help researchers investigate ways to improve the
psychological outcomes of affected children and their families.
The research led by Murdoch Childrens, will involve children undergoing cancer treatment at
The Royal Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre.
Ponting said the funding would aim to help some of the 600 children diagnosed with cancer in
Australia each year.
“Having a child diagnosed with cancer has a devastating impact on families. Treatments for
cancer are improving all the time – but what we also need to ensure we’re doing the best we
can to look after the psychological wellbeing of these children and their families, both during the
cancer treatment and long term,” Ponting said.
During treatment, children with cancer endure multiple challenges including pain, disconnection
from peers and disruption to schooling. Whilst most survivors adapt well following treatment, a
significant number will experience anxiety and adjustment issues, and some suffer from
treatment-related cognitive and learning difficulties.
Researchers will follow children through their cancer journey to determine risk factors for
psychological and neurobehavioural problems and develop interventions to improve long-term
wellbeing.
Lead researcher Maria McCarthy said “with more than 80 per cent of children surviving their
cancer, our goal is to ensure the best possible psychological and quality of life outcomes for
these children and families.”
“Our focus is to toward greater understanding of the family impact of childhood cancer, both in
the short and the long-term, and to develop interventions to reduce distress for all family
members. These children and families are part of our future and we want them to thrive despite
the challenge of cancer in their lives” McCarthy said.
This funding is part of the Government's Cancer Action plan and its commitment to innovative
research, prevention, support and treatment strategies to improve care and save lives.
Murdoch Childrens Director Professor Terry Dwyer welcomed the funding. “This is an important
opportunity for Australian scientists to lead a vital area of research that will help maximise the
health-related quality of life for affected children and their families.”
Page 2 of 2
Phone +613 8341 6200
Fax +613 9348 1391
ABN 21 006 566 972
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia
Patron
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE
Chairman
Mr Leigh Clifford AO
Director
Professor Terry Dwyer AO MD MPH
Ambassador Sarah Murdoch
Royal Children’s Hospital CEO Professor Christine Kilpatrick says “By working together with our
research partner Murdoch Childrens Research Institute we can provide sound evidence-based
psychological treatment to improve the long-term outcomes for children with cancer and, in turn,
their families.”
…ends…
Date
Sunday 31 October 2010, 1pm SHARP
Location
Level 6, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road Parkville
Vision / interviews
Ricky & Rianna Ponting meet children undergoing treatment for cancer
who will benefit from the funding and the translational research program
Media contact
Alyssa Jones
0413 331 816
NEWS 
