Accommodation services
We provide accommodation at no cost (where possible) in our Blood Cancer Centres for patients and families who need to travel to a major city hospital for cancer treatment.
This service helps relieve the stress and financial burden of finding a place to stay while attending important medical appointments. Accommodation is available for people who may need to spend weeks or months away from home while receiving treatment.
- If you’re receiving treatment as an outpatient, you and some family members can stay together in one of our Blood Cancer Centres so you don’t have to travel far to reach the hospital.
- If you’re staying in hospital as an inpatient, we can offer accommodation for some family members so they can stay nearby and provide support.
Need help?
Accommodation support for people with blood cancer
The Leukaemia Foundation provides accommodation in 10 Blood Cancer Centres across Australia.
These accommodation services are funded through generous donations from our community supporters and government subsidies.
Our Blood Cancer Centres provide accommodation in most capital cities.
ACT
John James Blood Cancer Centre, Garran, Canberra
NSW
Leukaemia Foundation Patient and Family Accommodation Complex, Westmead
QLD
Clem Jones-Sunland Blood Cancer Centre, Coopers Plains, Brisbane
QLD
ESA Blood Cancer Centre, Dutton Park, Brisbane
QLD
Freemasons Blood Cancer Centre, Townsville
QLD
Phillip Desbrow Blood Cancer Centre, Herston, Brisbane
QLD
Village Green Blood Cancer Centre, Bowen Hills, Brisbane
SA
Bridgestone Blood Cancer Centre, Lightsview, Adelaide
VIC
Building of Hope Blood Cancer Centre, North Melbourne
WA
Stirling Cross Blood Cancer Centre, Innaloo, Perth
Our Blood Cancer Centres offer studios, and two- and three-bedroom apartments, allowing patients and their families to stay together during treatment. These are often located in village-style complexes with common areas such as gardens, games rooms and lounges where families can connect with each other.
Providing accommodation for relatives of patients within a welcoming community environment also helps carers feel more supported as they navigate life with blood cancer.
Each apartment is a home-away-from-home for patients while they undergo treatment. Our fully furnished apartments include bedding and linen, and are self-contained so people can cook the meals they enjoy.
We also have trained support staff on hand to offer more practical and emotional support. Requests for accommodation can be submitted through our application form. This can be completed by a patient, family member, carer or healthcare professional.
Eligibility criteria and costs
Who is eligible for the accommodation service?
To be eligible for accommodation support, a patient must be:
- Diagnosed with a blood cancer or related blood disorder, or another type of cancer
- Requesting accommodation in relation to their treatment
- Eligible for their state or territory Patient Accommodation and Travel Scheme (PATS)
- From a regional, rural or remote area, or requiring treatment far from home
- Accompanied by an adult carer who is 18 years or older for the duration of their stay. This requirement applies for patients of all ages.
- Requiring accommodation for four nights or more
Who can stay in a blood cancer centre?
People with cancer and their loved ones can stay in a blood cancer centre subject to availability and meeting the eligibility criteria.
The maximum number of people who can stay in a unit overnight is based on the number of physical beds provided and must not exceed this number due to fire safety regulations.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in our centres. Service animals will be accepted – please mention this when applying so appropriate arrangements can be made.
How are requests assessed?
We’ll assess requests individually and consider personal circumstances such as the level of need, alternative support available and distance from the hospital where treatment will occur. The outcome of each request will also depend on our capacity to offer support, apartment availability and other factors.
How much will it cost to stay at a blood cancer centre?
As long as they meet the eligibility criteria, people with blood cancer and their loved ones can stay at a blood cancer centre free of charge.
What if there are no apartments available?
If we’re at capacity, we may refer patients to one of our preferred accommodation providers. Although patients will be liable for any costs associated with staying at these facilities, a partial reimbursement may be available from PATS in their state or territory. Please liaise with their offices directly regarding these costs.
Please call 1800 620 420 and one of our friendly team members will be happy to provide additional information about our accommodation service and application process.
Blood cancers A-Z
A
AA secondary amyloidosis
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ALL
Acute myeloid leukaemia AML
Acute myelomonocytic leukaemia AMML
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia APML
Afib mutated fibrinogen alpha chain amyloidosis
AL systemic amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
Aplastic anaemia AA
ATTR familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy
ATTR wild type senile amyloidosis
B
Biphenotypic leukaemia
Bisphosphonates myeloma
C
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia CLL
Chronic myeloid leukaemia CML
H
Hairy cell leukaemia
Hodgkin lymphoma
I
IgA myeloma
IgG myeloma
J
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia JMML
L
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis LCH
Leukaemia
Light chain myeloma
Lymphocyte depleted HL
Lymphocyte rich HL
Lymphoma
M
MDS with biallelic TP53 inactivation MDS-biTP53
MDS with fibrosis
MDS with hypoplastic MDS-h
MDS with increased blasts MDS-IB1
MDS with increased blasts MDS-IB2
MDS with low blasts MDS-LB
MDS with low blasts and isolated 5q deletion MDS-5q
MDS with low blasts and SF3B1 mutation MDS-SF3B1
Mixed cellularity HL
Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance MGUS
MPN Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia CEL
MPN Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia CMML
MPN Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia CMML
MPN Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia CNL
MPN Essential thrombocythaemia ET
MPN Polycythaemia Rubra vera PV
MPN Primary myelofibrosis MF
MPN Systemic mastocytosis SM
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplasia Myelodysplastic neoplasms MDS
Myeloma
Myeloid sarcoma localised leukaemia
Myeloproliferative neoplasms MPN
N
NHL Adult T-Cell leukaemic ATLL
NHL Anaplastic large cell ALCL
NHL Burkitt’s
NHL Cutaneous T-Cell
NHL Diffuse large B-cell DLBCL
NHL Double hit DHL
NHL Follicular
NHL Lymphoplasmacytic Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia WM
NHL MALT
NHL Mantle cell
NHL Marginal zone
NHL Peripheral T-Cell
NHL Primary cutaneous B-cell
NHL Primary mediastinal B-cell PMBCL
NHL Small lymphocytic SLL
NHL Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-Cell
NHL T-Lymphoblastic
NHL Waldenstroms macroglobulinaemia
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Nodular lymphocyte predominant HL
Nodular sclerosing HL
O
Osteosclerotic myeloma
P
Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Plasmacytoma localised myeloma
POEMS syndrome
R
Richter’s syndrome leukaemia
S
Smouldering indolent myeloma
Solitary plasmacytoma myeloma
Systemic mastocytosis