Back on Track Foundation

13/10/2026

Surviving childhood cancer is not the end of the journey.

Yesterday, Back on Track Foundation was honoured to attend a special childhood cancer survivorship event at Parliament House in Canberra, organised by Children's Cancer CoLab.

We heard from extraordinary speakers, but it was young Maya and her mum, Sheila Patel, whose story particularly moved us. Their experience was a powerful reminder of just how much families continue to navigate long after cancer treatment ends, including the lasting impact on a child's education.

For many children, returning to school is not simply a return to normal. Learning has been interrupted, friendships have changed, confidence has been shaken, and the road to recovery can take years.

Our Founder and CEO, Kylie Dalton, met with parliamentarians and fellow advocates to discuss why educational recovery must be part of Australia's approach to childhood cancer survivorship.

We also connected with organisations and stakeholders who share our belief that greater collaboration is essential if we are to improve outcomes for children and their families.

Thank you to Children's Cancer CoLab for bringing these important conversations to Parliament House, and especially to the survivors and families who so generously shared their experiences. Such as parent advocate and CCRF Chair Tracy Hollington.

Because surviving cancer should also mean having the opportunity to thrive afterwards. 💛

25/09/2026

💜 Back on Track Foundation was honoured to partner with Business News for today’s Sector Briefing: The Future of Health 2026.

It was a fantastic afternoon at Optus Stadium, bringing together leaders from across Western Australia’s health sector to discuss the challenges, opportunities and priorities that will shape healthcare in our State.

We heard from Dr Shirley Bowen, Director General of WA Health, who delivered the keynote address, followed by a terrific panel of health leaders exploring everything from workforce and innovation to how we build a more sustainable and responsive health system.

For Back on Track, being part of these conversations matters.

For children affected by childhood cancer, recovery does not finish when treatment ends. The impacts can continue well beyond the hospital, into school, learning, friendships and everyday life. Building better outcomes means thinking about that whole journey.

Thank you to Business News for bringing the sector together and for giving Back on Track the opportunity to be part of it.

19/09/2026

💛 This one is very special to us.

Marley was there at the very beginning of Back on Track Foundation, as one of the first students we supported.

His mum, Kerrin Hampson, has been sharing their family’s story throughout September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. She has written about treatment, hospital stays, the hard days, and the moment his port was finally removed after three years and six months.

Now she gets to write about something very different.

Marley has completed his compulsory schooling and will graduate soon. 👨‍🎓

That means a lot to us.

Back on Track exists because cancer can disrupt education long after treatment ends. Our role is to work alongside young people, families and schools so education remains part of recovery and part of the future.

We are also incredibly grateful to Fremantle College for the way they have worked alongside Marley, his family and Back on Track throughout his high school years. That kind of partnership matters.

And Marley has certainly made the most of it. His classmates recently voted him “Most likely to become Prime Minister.”

No pressure, Marley. 😉

From one of the young people who was there at the beginning of Back on Track to a soon-to-be graduate, Marley will always hold a very special place in our story.

We are so proud of you. 💛

11/09/2026

Gold is the colour of childhood cancer awareness. But going gold should mean more than changing a profile picture for September. 💛

For many children and young people, finishing cancer treatment does not mean life simply returns to normal.

And school can be one of the hardest places to return to.

A student may look well while still managing fatigue, slower processing, changes to concentration and memory, missed learning, and the challenge of reconnecting with friendships and a school community that continued moving while they were away.

These impacts are often invisible. That makes them easy to miss, easy to misunderstand, and too often easy to underestimate.

At Back on Track Foundation, we work alongside children, young people, families and schools to make sure education remains part of recovery.
That means helping schools understand what has changed, identifying appropriate adjustments, and advocating for students to be met with understanding rather than assumptions.

Importantly, students experiencing the ongoing effects of cancer treatment may have rights and protections under the Disability Standards for Education 2005. Support at school is not simply about being kind or lowering expectations. It is about removing barriers so a student can access their education.

No family navigating childhood cancer should have to work all of that out alone.

So this September, when we Go Gold, we are asking people to see beyond survival.

💛 See the child who made it back to school but is exhausted by lunchtime.
💛 See the teenager working twice as hard to process what once came easily.
💛 See the student trying to find their place again after months away.
💛 And remember that their education, hopes and future still matter.

When a child survives cancer, their hopes and dreams deserve to survive too.

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

It was a pleasure to welcome Ms Colleen Egan - Member for Thornlie, to Back on Track Foundation and show her what our work looks like on the ground.

What became clear very quickly was just how many children and schools across her own electorate are already connected to Back on Track.

Our students are currently attending schools including East Maddington Primary School, Forest Crescent Primary School, Gosnells Primary School, Maddington Primary School, Thornlie Primary School and Thornlie Senior High School.

For children whose education has been disrupted by cancer and serious illness, getting back to school is only part of the story. Many continue to manage gaps in learning, cognitive impacts, fatigue, anxiety and lost confidence long after treatment has finished. That is where our Education Advocates and specialised education support come in.

Thank you, Colleen, for taking the time to visit Back on Track Foundation and meet with our Founder and CEO, Kylie Dalton, Program Director, Louise Shedden, and Program Manager, Fiona Shand. It was a valuable opportunity to talk through the scale of need across the Thornlie electorate, the number of local schools already connected to our program, and the support children and families continue to need during and after cancer treatment.

It matters when our elected representatives take the time to see not only the work being done, but the children and families behind it.

25/08/2026

🎉 We have some pretty exciting news! Our very own Program Director, Louise Shedden has been named a finalist in the 2026 Westfield Australia Local Heroes program! 💜

This recognition means a lot to us. Louise co-founded the Back on Track Foundation with CEO Kylie Dalton, and has been instrumental in building it into the organisation it is today, developing new approaches to educational advocacy and support for children and young people whose education and lives have been disrupted by cancer.

What started with a determination to stop children falling through the gaps has grown into specialised support reaching families and schools across Western Australia.

And now there’s something pretty big at stake…

If Louise receives the most community votes, Back on Track Foundation will receive a $20,000 grant.

Right now, we’re supporting 154 children and young people, with another 83 waiting for help. That $20,000 would help us build our capacity to reach more of those children and families.

And the best part? Helping us has never been easier. It costs nothing and takes less than a minute.

👉 VOTE FOR LOUISE HERE: https://qrco.de/bgyt4k

Please vote and share this post with your family and friends. Every vote counts, and every share helps us reach another person who might get behind Louise and Back on Track. 💜

Voting closes 20 September.

31/07/2026

Engines are warm. We can't wait

28/07/2026

🏁 Be among the first to see the brand new Statewide Bearings Supercar before it hits the track at this weekend’s Perth Super440!

Today, we’re excited to join Statewide Bearings, Brad Jones Racing and our friends at the Child Cancer Research Foundation for the official unveiling of Cameron Hill’s #14 Toyota GR Supra, celebrating a unique partnership supporting children and young people affected by cancer.

📅 Today (Wednesday 29 July)
🕙 10.00am - 11.00am
📍 Statewide Bearings
67 Kewdale Road, Kewdale

Come along and:

🏎️ Be among the first to see the new Statewide Bearings Supercar up close before it heads to the Perth Super440.

🤝 Meet the Brad Jones Racing team.

🎤 Hear from Team Owner Brad Jones.

🌭 Enjoy a sausage sizzle and morning tea, with all proceeds supporting the Back on Track Foundation and the Child Cancer Research Foundation.

Whether you’re a motorsport fan or simply looking for something different to do this morning, we’d love to see you there.

We’re incredibly grateful to Statewide Bearings and Brad Jones Racing for using one of Australia’s biggest sporting stages to help shine a spotlight on childhood cancer. Together with the Child Cancer Research Foundation, we’re helping ensure children and young people affected by cancer have the support they need, from life-saving research through to education, advocacy and survivorship, so they can get back to being kids.

💙 We hope to see you there!