Cancer Council Victoria offers four pro bono services for people affected by cancer:
- Legal
- Financial planning
- Workplace advisory
- Small business advice
These services are delivered by professionals in the community who volunteer their time to assist people who cannot afford to pay for advice. Cancer Council matches eligible people to the appropriate service providers.
Eligibility criteria apply and all patients are means tested. When you refer a patient into the service, a case manager based at Cancer Council NSW will call the client requesting further details including some financial information to determine eligibility.
Who is eligible?
- Cancer patients, carers and bereaved carers (clients)
- The issue must be related to/harder to solve because of a cancer diagnosis (Some connection to the diagnosis is needed. For example divorce would not be covered.)
- Except in exceptional circumstances, clients can not be accessing the services of a lawyer for the same issue eg.the program can't be accessed for a second opinion.
- For free assistance, clients must be unable to pay. Examples of those who would usually qualify are:
- People on a Centrelink allowance
- Those who have experienced loss of income, are eligible for public housing, have large debts etc.
Following confirmation of eligibility, clients are matched to a professional. If possible, this will be in their local area.
How to refer patients
If you have a patient or carer that you believe is eligible for assistance from the pro bono service, please download and complete the Pro Bono Referral Form and Program Information (PDF 0.1MB) form and send it to our team at:
Email to probono@cancercouncil.org.au or Fax on (02) 8302 3520 or
- Patients can self-refer by calling Cancer Council on 13 11 20
- Please don't call firms directly - Cancer Council needs to manage the referral process for quality assurance purposes
For information and support for any of our programs contact us on 13 11 20, or email askanurse@cancervic.org.au