Established in 1995, Bosom Buddies has been supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer in Canberra and the surrounding NSW region for nearly 30 years. We are not a research organisation; we operate solely to provide support to those diagnosed with breast cancer and their loved ones.

Unlike a lot of our other cancer counterparts in the ACT we do not receive any funding but rely purely on donations from our generous Canberra community. All donations stay local and directly support people in the community.

We support people from when they are diagnosed, through their treatment and following their treatment. Our support team volunteers are all breast cancer survivors, who understand what it is like to have breast cancer. They provide on the ground 1:1 peer support and facilitate regular support groups for those going through their cancer journeys enabling participants to share how they are feeling, ask questions and connect with people who are going through or have gone through a breast cancer diagnosis.

Bosom Buddies also provides information on services available in the region and conducts information sessions on breast awareness and early detection to the community.

Ever heard of a buddy bag? Our buddy bags are full of helpful items made by our volunteers, information on post-surgery care and the services available in the region. These bags are given free to patients’ post-surgery in Canberra’s public and private hospitals by the breast care nurses. In 2023, over 850 buddy bags were assembled by our Bosom Buddies’ volunteers for breast cancer patients. Sounds a lot, right?

How your donation will help

Your contribution will enable us to continue with best practice/duty of care for support team, volunteers, and members and to investigate new ways to connect and support those diagnosed with breast cancer in Canberra and regional NSW. 

To investigate how to engage and encourage the younger population diagnosed with breast cancer to link up with our services. 

To provide relevant training to empower the support team who are all survivors, to continue to provide peer support to people diagnosed with breast cancer and to fund counselling services to ensure that they maintain good health and wellbeing.

To provide relevant training to empower the support team to continue to provide peer support to people diagnosed with breast cancer. And to ensure the currency of the free information sessions that are provided to the community on breast awareness and early detection.

To continue to facilitate peer support groups for those with breast cancer in Canberra and regional NSW.

To continue to provide free buddy bags and oncology packs to breast cancer patients who are treated in Canberra’s public and private hospitals.

We’d really love your help to spread the word so we can continue helping our community.