FY2020/21: Our performance over time
Growing investment in research
This year we enabled $16.8 of world-class cancer research through the Daffodil Centre – a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney – and research projects funded through our external grants program.
* Total Research expenditure includes research we fund and conduct.
** Research grants, in brackets, shows total research grants we funded for the year.
We also partnered with government and collaborators, seeking competitive grant and contract funding.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of research grants received | 16 | 13 | 21 | 19 | 31 | |
| Total research grants received ($m) | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.4 |
Supporting people with cancer
Thanks to our incredible volunteers and staff members, we made sure cancer patients could still get to their treatment during COVID-19.
 |
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of trips by our Transport to Treatment service: | 22,138 | 28,407 | 19,070 | 20,833* |
*This year we continued to see a lower number of Transport to Treatment trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the temporary closure of some services, reduced our ability to transport patients, and saw some patients delaying their treatment or opting for virtual appointments. From July 2020, we enabled a volunteer-led return of drivers aged 60+ following their temporary stand down and continued to operate Transport to Treatment services across NSW, despite the unfolding COVID-19 situation and floods in the Hunter and Mid North Coast community areas.
Our thanks to Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation who have helped fund the expansion of our Transport to Treatment program since 2005, ensuring more cancer patients are able to access treatment – no matter where they live.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of accommodation nights: | 19,897 | 21,074 | 23,144 | 23,816 | 17,797* |
*We saw a decrease in the number of accommodation nights in 2021 as a result of the termination of our partnership with the Western Sydney Area Health Service for Casuarina Lodge at Westmead Hospital.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial assistance payments ($) | 587,052 | 943,000 | 1,013,258 | 1,021,325 | 1,020,805 |
COVID-19 meant that people affected by cancer faced additional financial hardship and our Financial Assistance Program has continued to support cancer patients and carers with the cost of everyday expenses during this time.
Providing reliable information
We are providing reliable information about specific types of cancer, treatments and emotional and practical issues.
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of individual podcast listens: | 16,451 | 13,194 | 23,243 | 17,939* | |
| Visits to Cancer Council Online Community: | 27,998 | 53,120 | 221,004 | 163,907 | 122,739** |
| Understanding Cancer books and fact sheets distributed in print formats | 218,219 | 192,147 | 179,813 | 146,878* | 119,481*** |
| Number of visits to the Cancer Information pages on our website | 544,994 | 996,859 | 1,384,574 | 1,934,383 | 2,007,039 |
| Number of downloads of Understanding Cancer resources | 10,571 | 19,212 | 36,948 | 64,864 | 63,271 |
Our podcasts, The Thing About Cancer and The Thing About Advanced Cancer, provide easy to understand information for patients and their carers. Cancer-related fatigue, brain fog and feeling unwell can make reading a challenge, but listening to a podcast takes very little effort and can be done at a time and place that suits the listener.
*We saw a large spike in listens in the previous year due to a new series launch and associated promotion resulting in an overall drop for 2020/21, but despite this listening figures remain strong with five new episodes released this year.
**Cancer Council Online Community visits have fluctuated due to an increase in competing online channels.
***We distributed fewer Understanding Cancer resources in hospitals, treatment centres and regional offices due to COVID-19.
Professional organisations generously volunteer their time and expertise to support cancer patients and carers through our Pro Bono program with legal, financial and workplace issues.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of legal, financial and workplace issues: | 3,518 | 3,719 | 4,003 | 3,508 | 2,942 |
*We have continued to see a decrease in referrals due to COVID-19 in 2020/21, as clients may not be attending their treatment centres for a referral to a health professional.
Supported by the community
Over the past year, our fundraising has been heavily impacted by COVID-19. In 2021, further lockdowns forced us to cancel or postpone even more events. These events are vital in helping us recover from the impact of the pandemic in 2020.
We are so grateful to our generous supporters who continue to fundraise and donate to us, embracing our new ways of fundraising throughout the pandemic, such as virtual pivots for many much-loved fundraising campaigns.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total fundraising income ($m): | 66.9 | 56.5 | 63.8 | 48.1 | 58.3 | |
| Number of people who left us a gift in their will: | 150 | 108 | 147 | 134 | 131* |
*We are grateful for the generosity of the 98 people who left a gift in their will this year, with several large estates resulting in a 214% increase in gifts in wills income since last year. These incredible legacies will make a difference to the future of cancer.
Working to prevent cancer
We are working to prevent cancer by creating healthier environments and empowering people to reduce their cancer risk.
 |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of golf clubs participating in Improve your long game: | 82 | 111 | 108 | 183 | 200 |
Nearly half of all golf clubs participating in the Improve your long game program also took part in our fundraising campaign, The Longest Day, as host or promoter clubs.