When a young local girl lost her battle with leukaemia in the 1970s, the population of a small regional city came together to help ensure people with blood cancer would have access to more support and life-saving care in the future. The Mount Isa community was one of the earliest fundraisers for Leukaemia Foundation and their commitment to this cause continues today. Witnessing her community’s generosity and the practical support provided by Leukaemia Foundation led Angela Daly to seek a career helping people with blood cancer and their loved ones navigate the health system and access the community services they need.
Angela Daly’s dedication to helping people with blood cancer began when she was a young girl living in the remote outback city of Mount Isa, Queensland.
“Growing up in the late 1980s, we had these big blue bins at our homes which were for recycling cans,” she recalls. “We knew they were the ‘leukaemia bins’.”
Proceeds from the bins were used by the local Leukaemia Foundation branch to support families who were impacted by a leukaemia diagnosis or travelling to Brisbane for treatment.
Angela had a close personal connection to one of the key local fundraisers, her great aunt’s best friend, Kathy Swift.
“Kathy and one of her very close friends, Elaine Gamer, were fundamental in initially establishing the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland branch in Mount Isa,” she recalls.
Elaine’s daughter, 16-year-old Lisa, lost her battle with leukaemia in May 1979. Two months later, Elaine and her husband Mel established the Mount Isa Leukaemia Fund to fulfil their daughter’s wish that they help other people with leukaemia.
Over the following years, the Mount Isa community would raise vital funds for medical equipment, accommodation and other support services.
In the 1970s and 80s, Queenslanders who were diagnosed with leukaemia or another blood cancer had limited or no treatment options. While some patients could access treatment in Brisbane, young patients in particular had to travel to Sydney. It would take Mount Isa families more than 20 hours by car just to reach Brisbane and although flights were availalble, these were an expensive option.
Angela says the financial and social impacts for families were often dire.
“If they wished to keep their family home, it meant relying on family and friends in Brisbane. And often that meant living in their car for periods of time. Some people had to sell their homes and relocate from their friends, family and everything they knew, often with quite poor outcomes. So that was actually quite distressing for the families from remote areas.”
These days, Leukaemia Foundation provides accommodation (subject to availability), emotional support services and other resources for people with blood cancer and their families. Accommodation in our Blood Cancer Centres is available for people from rural, regional or remote areas who must travel significant distances to access treatment. These centres are located near major treating hospitals across Australia.
Learn more about Leukaemia Foundation accommodation services.
“I’ve had a number of family friends who needed to relocate to Brisbane over the years, with poor outcomes,” Angela says. “It was very sad. But they could get the treatment they needed, stay with their families and have quality time.”
Working for Leukaemia Foundation in regional Queensland (2006 – 2008)
Angela completed her social work degree in 2005 in Townsville. During her final placement at Townsville University Hospital, she saw the benefits for patients and their families when oncology social workers and support services worked closely.
She also learned more about the many services delivered by Leukaemia Foundation through its local support coordinators including emotional support, resources and other practical assistance for people with blood cancer.
At the end of her studies, Angela decided to apply for one of these roles and began supporting people from across north Queensland including Cairns, Mackay and her hometown of Mount Isa. Her job involved assisting patients and their families to access accommodation, financial resources and other local services.
She facilitated education sessions where specialists provided patient and family-friendly information on illnesses including myeloma, lymphoma and acute leukaemia. These were held every couple of months in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay.
Angela also ran a Patient and Carers Support Group in Cairns in partnership with the local oncology social worker. Guest speakers included dietitians, psychologists and other healthcare experts who provided valuable insights to help patients navigate their blood cancer experience.
These in-person sessions made it possible to share information and build communities of support for patients and their loved ones before it was possible online.
Learn more about support groups for people with blood cancer.
Angela’s earliest connections with fundraising for Leukaemia Foundation and understanding how the organisation helped people from remote areas, meant she was uniquely equipped for this role.
Caring for people with blood cancer in 2025
Angela would later work in aged care and palliative care teams in the United Kingdom and Brisbane. However, she returned to regional Queensland in 2017 and joined the oncology team at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
As a Senior Social Worker, she draws on her personal experiences to help people from regional, rural and remote areas feel supported throughout their blood cancer journey. This involves working alongside the hospital’s inpatient social workers, specialist clinical nurses, and treatment and administration teams to help people deal with life-changing diagnoses, navigate the healthcare system and access community support.
“Our local accommodation services, which are run by a hospital charity and places like Leukaemia Foundation are a key part of someone’s experience,” she says.
“I am very interested and passionate about the role of oncology social work and how we can add to a patient’s experience.”
“I think a lot of social work relies on community networks and knowing the different services that are available. Having and sharing that knowledge is very important.”
See Angela’s tips for people navigating the healthcare system here.
Angela regularly liaises with colleagues in other hospitals and community organisations to help patients get the support they need while receiving treatment on the Sunshine Coast or following a transfer to Brisbane.
She also refers patients to Leukaemia Foundation Healthcare Professionals, where appropriate. These staff visit the hospital each month and provide practical and emotional support.
Angela says accommodation and financial assistance make an incredible difference for families.
“Even with the public healthcare system, there are still so many unseen costs associated with a cancer diagnosis.”
“For many people, having accommodation provided can help stop financial considerations from impacting treatment decision making.”
“Having subsidised accommodation located near treatment centres can make all the difference to patients facing a blood cancer diagnosis.”
Although 50 years have passed since Leukaemia Foundation was founded, Angela’s story shows people with blood cancer still need a lot of support. From accommodation to emotional assistance, we are dedicated to helping patients and families across Australia by making their lives easier and funding research programs in pursuit of our goal – zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.
This article shares personal experiences and general information. For tailored advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
Listen to the full interview with Angela Daly on the Talking Blood Cancer Podcast.
