The Social Work service at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and St Vincent’s Hospital provides specialised counselling, advocacy and information about community and social services to cancer patients and their families and carers. Social Work is a tertiary qualified profession with a focus on enhancing social and emotional functioning through targeted assessment and person centred interventions, and the mobilisation of services and supports. Social Workers are key members of the multidisciplinary team, consisting of four Social Workers who work within the clinical specialties of haematology and bone marrow transplant, medical oncology, radiation oncology and head and neck oncology, across the inpatient and outpatient settings.
Social Workers provide:
- counselling around adjustment to the cancer diagnosis
- assistance with accessing health information and navigating the health care system
- counselling and education for issues affecting cancer patients including grief and loss, relationship concerns, treatment concerns and adapting to life post treatment
- accessing financial, legal and practical support services
- providing counselling and education for family and carers, including talking to children about cancer
- group work for breast cancer patients and head and neck cancer patients
If you are interested in a referral to the Social Work service, please discuss with your doctor or cancer care coordinator.
