Waratah Education Foundation has a vision for an Australian educational system where every child is afforded the opportunity to realise their academic potential. To work at achieving this mission, this Foundation supports programs that pursue, promote and improve educational outcomes for children in Australia.  Whether through programs that help break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage or through research into childhood education programs, this Foundation invests in the future of children and young people in Australia.  

Waratah Education Foundation has been proudly supporting SCHF since 2020 when they committed to generously provide $202,500 of funding over 3 years to the Back on Track Program.  

Back on Track is a wrap-around educational support service for children diagnosed with and undergoing life-saving treatment for cancer.  

It is an essential part of the care package provided to families at The Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital Westmead and the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. 

Children are supported from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, onto recovery and beyond – on average for 12 months. Since 2006, Back on Track has supported well over 1,000 children and adolescents to successfully return to and/or complete school.  For the past year, it has benefited 269 school-aged children undergoing treatment for cancer cross both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Key activities and outcomes for the past year are as follows:

“We are grateful that this service is provided free of charge to families and children with cancer. For many families, financial pressure is a big part of this cancer journey. Many families would not be able to pay for this type of assistance. I am grateful to live in a country where money is donated to services such as Back on Track, so that children like my son can work on living a normal life after childhood cancer.”  
- Year 9 child’s mum  

The team comprises of four dedicated Education Program Coordinators who are experienced school teachers. Funding from Waratah Education Foundation and other philanthropic donors provides a vital contribution to funding  Education Coordinators and keeping this essential program running.

“Being an Education Coordinator with Back on Track is not a job, it is a privilege. It is an opportunity to walk with a child and his or her family through their most difficult journey and witness pure joy at their return to school, which is every child’s normal. School is hope! It is that look in their eyes (when they return to school) that is priceless!  While we at Back on Track can bear testament to the fruits of our efforts (most often), the fact remains that had it not been for the support from our donors in our hour of need, we would be only a memory”.
- Dr. Marianne Fernandes.