There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens at Bloomhill Cancer Care. It’s not loud or dramatic, but it’s deeply felt. It’s in the way people are welcomed, in the time they’re given and in the steady presence of nurses such as Helen Dunne, who walk alongside patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Ms Dunne, who has been with Bloomhill for five years as the charity’s clinical services lead, said it was the ability to say “yes” to whoever walks through their door that sets them apart.
“It’s about supporting people emotionally, as well as clinically and giving them time,” Ms Dunne said.
“We are not looking at the clock. We do everything we can to make time, so the client doesn’t feel rushed.
“I think that’s really important.”
It’s a simple idea, but in a healthcare landscape often defined by waitlists and time limits, it’s transformative. At Bloomhill, care doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it’s tailored to each individual, their diagnosis, their stage of treatment and their personal needs.
Support can extend to exercise physiology, group programs and social connection, which Ms Dunne said was all proven to help manage treatment side effects and improve wellbeing.
“We try to connect people with what they need to help them through holistically,” Helen says.
“It might be that they’re highly stressed and would benefit from touch therapy, or it might be help with lymphedema care and education they need.”
Ms Dunne said, for many patients, the real challenges begin after treatment ends – and it’s a gap Bloomhill is uniquely positioned to fill.
“They go through this really long treatment regime … and it’s after this where Bloomhill picks up,” she said.
Programs and support groups also connect carers with one another, creating a shared understanding that can be just as vital.
“We understand that caring for someone who is facing cancer can be all-consuming and stressful. Carers may have their own concerns that they want to talk about privately without worrying their loved ones,” Ms Dunne said.
Surrounded by gardens, quiet spaces and a sense of calm, the Bloomhill Wellness Centre at Buderim offers something many patients don’t often experience in clinical settings: a place to just be. It’s almost like a sacred place, where visitors feel a sense of calm the moment they enter the grounds.
“It’s such a beautiful space here,” Ms Dunne said.
“I always say to people when they first come in, the gardens are here for you … you can just go and sit.”
Most importantly, the nursing services, education workshops and support groups at Bloomhill are free. But with a small team of part-time nurses and an increasing demand for care, they need our continued support to ensure this invaluable service continues to thrive.
Thanks to our community, Bloomhill is able to fund nursing hours, allowing the team to provide flexible, unhurried care.
With demand continuing to grow, further support will help ensure more families can access this care when they need it most.
“We are seeing more and more people needing support,” Ms Dunne said.
“To continue providing this level of care, we need to grow our nursing capacity.”
The impact of that support is visible in the smallest moments: a conversation that isn’t cut short, a patient who is seen immediately, a family who feels held rather than rushed.
For Ms Dunne, those moments define the work.
“At it’s core, Bloomhill is about showing up when people need it most,” she said.
Support Bloomhill this Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, Bloomhill Cancer Care is inviting the community to honour the people who have stood beside them in life’s hardest moments with a gesture that carries real impact.
Make a donation in honour of someone special: a mum, partner, friend or loved one who has offered strength, care or comfort when it mattered most.
A personalised message can also be shared alongside each donation.
Together with the BLOOMED Mother’s Day Luncheon, the community is working towards a shared goal of raising $70,000 to support Bloomhill’s nursing team.
Every donation helps ensure Sunshine Coast families continue to receive personalised, compassionate cancer care when they need it most.
To donate, visit bloomhill.com.au/mothersday
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Four women, four journeys
Four women – each at a different stage of their cancer journey – reveal the support they have received from Bloomhill has meant something unique and deeply personal.
Maree
Maree is a mum of three and a Sunshine Coast local. In May 2024, she was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer and has since moved through treatment with the support of her family, friends and the team at Bloomhill.
How has your perspective on life changed since your diagnosis? I’ve come to realise that the people in your life are what matters most. Our time is finite and this experience has reminded me how important it is to spend it making life gentler, kinder and better for the people around us.
How have you coped emotionally throughout your experience? My family, friends and community have carried me through more than they probably know. Every message of love and support has meant so much. My husband has been my anchor, holding me up with so much care and love.
What services or support from Bloomhill have made the biggest difference for you? The small-group exercise sessions have been such an important part of my journey. They offer more than physical support. They create space for connection.
What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed? I try to simply sit with them and listen, because their fears are real and overwhelming. I encourage them to trust their medical team and invite them for a coffee at Bloomhill, to gently introduce them to the support available.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about organisations such as Bloomhill? Bloomhill is such a special place. It’s a hub of healthcare and wellness, but also so much more. There is a deep sense of understanding, and whatever your need may be, they help you find support, guidance or a way forward.
Alex
Alex is a young mum to two little girls. At just 30, she was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer: a moment that shifted everything and brought a new perspective on life, family and what truly matters.
How has your perspective on life changed since your diagnosis? Coming face to face with your own mortality at 30 changes everything. In a way, it has been a blessing. I now truly understand how precious life is and not to take a single day for granted.
How have you coped emotionally throughout your experience? It has been an emotional roller-coaster, but my support network has been everything. My husband, family, friends and even people I have met along the way. My girls have also been a huge source of strength, bringing me back to the present and reminding me what really matters.
What services or support from Bloomhill have made the biggest difference for you? For me, it has been the nurses. They are incredible. I know I can reach out at any time and be met with support and advice.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about organisations such as Bloomhill? They are a true hub for people going through cancer. From exercise
classes and counselling to massage and nursing care, there is so much support all in one place.
Leanne
Leanne is a wife, mum and grandmother who has faced cancer more than once in her life and is now living with stage 4 melanoma. Through it all, she has found strength in her family, her community and the support of Bloomhill.
How has your perspective on life changed since your diagnosis? One hundred per cent, without question – for me, it is time. Time is so precious and I do not take it for granted. It is not lost on me that I am here and I will be forever grateful.
How have you coped emotionally throughout your experience? Connection. Connecting with family, friends and the community around me, and also reconnecting with myself through meditation and yoga.
What services or support from Bloomhill have made the biggest difference for you? Psychology, yoga, meditation, massage and the nursing staff have all played such an important role in supporting me throughout my journey.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about organisations such as Bloomhill? It is vital to have organisations like Bloomhill. It’s somewhere I feel safe and understood. Art therapy has also been incredibly important, creating a safe and supportive space to be seen and heard alongside others on a similar journey.
Linda
Linda has learnt to move through life differently since her diagnosis, focusing less on pushing through and more on taking each day as it comes.
How has your perspective on life changed since your diagnosis? I do not feel the need to push myself anymore. I go with the flow and take life as it comes, focusing on doing things I enjoy and making time to socialise.
How have you coped emotionally throughout your experience? Bloomhill has been a restful haven for me. The staff have helped me feel safe through every change I have experienced. The exercise programs have been wonderful.
What services or support from Bloomhill have made the biggest difference for you? Art therapy has made the biggest difference for me.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about organisations such as Bloomhill? Bloomhill provides a safe and supportive environment that plays an important role alongside medical treatment. It offers care, understanding and connection when you need it most.
What is Bloomhill?
Bloomhill Cancer Care is a community-based organisation, providing nurse-led support for men, women and families impacted by cancer on the Sunshine Coast.
Each year, more than 1700 people walk through the centre’s doors. Some are newly diagnosed, others are navigating treatment, and many are learning how to live beyond it. Behind each of them is a team providing personalised care – from nursing and counselling through to allied health and wellness support.
Demand for these services continues to grow, as more people face a cancer diagnosis and look for support that goes beyond the hospital system.
At Bloomhill, that care is local and deeply personal, ensuring no one walks their cancer journey alone.
