Easing financial and legal worries for improved health & wellbeing

Pro Bono Program: Relieving financial and legal stress in times of need

The crippling financial burden of a cancer diagnosis

Without Cancer Council’s Pro Bono Program, cancer survivor Carol Kemister says that she probably would have lost her house. Carol and her husband, Marty, were diagnosed with cancer in the same year, which left them unable to work and placed tremendous financial stress on their family.

A cancer diagnosis can often mean a reduction in work hours and loss of income – on top of expensive out of pocket treatment costs.

Instead of being able to focus solely on their recovery, Carol and Marty were concerned with cutting household costs to pay for their daily expenses, credit cards, mortgage, and cancer treatments.

Treatment can have many physical effects that make everyday tasks difficult and adding the extra stress of sorting finances and negotiating complex legal documents can be crippling.

Helping to ease financial and legal stress

Thankfully, Cancer Council’s Pro Bono Program helped reduce some of Marty and Carol’s financial burden.

The program connects people affected by cancer with volunteer professionals in the community who provide financial, legal, workplace and small business issues assistance and advice.

In 2018, Cancer Council's Pro Bono Network of Professionals provided almost $5.2 million of commercial assistance. This support assisted over 1,500 people affected by cancer. 

Marty and Carol met with professional financial advisor Tony, to discuss the financial impact of their cancer diagnoses.

Tony, who has been generously sharing his expertise with community members in need for the past 12 years, set out to uncover ways to steer the couple into a better financial position.

A hold was put on the couple’s mortgage for six months and he was also able to get some of their superannuation released. Marty described it as a “weight off their shoulders.”

Research shows improved emotional wellbeing

The positive impact of the Pro Bono Program isn’t simply anecdotal but has been confirmed by research conducted by Cancer Council NSW. The practical, psychological and emotional support received by program participants has resulted in improved emotional wellbeing.

After receiving assistance through the Pro Bono Program, people reported significantly lower levels of stress and worry about their legal and financial problems and felt less burdened financially.

They also reported being significantly more informed about the issues affecting them; having a better understanding of available options; and ultimately, feeling more in control. 

An invaluable service powered by community

Michelle Smerdon, National Legal & Financial Support Service Manager at Cancer Council NSW, describes how it’s the blindside of the significant financial impact of a cancer diagnosis which often causes emotional distress.

This is what makes Cancer Council’s Pro Bono Program, and all of the professionals who donate their time, invaluable.

Marty and Carol were so grateful to have access to Cancer Council’s Pro Bono Program and say they would have ended up in a much worse condition without it.

The Pro Bono Program is means-tested and is free for people who cannot afford to pay for it. Cancer Council asks a series of financial questions to determine eligibility.

Availability of our services varies around the country. To find out about support services for people affected by cancer in your local area, get in touch with your local Cancer Council or call 13 11 20.