Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre takes shape as a family-friendly place of healing and innovation

Major works on Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre are progressing to create a first-of-its-kind centre with comfortable, light-filled interiors that have been designed with young people, families and carers in mind.

Opening in Sydney in 2025, the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre is set to have national and global impact with fully integrated research and clinical care for the best possible results for children and young people with cancer.

Importantly for families facing cancer, the Centre will include amenities such as overnight beds for parents, a day oncology centre and inpatient units, as well as a dedicated bone-marrow transplant unit.

Through the sharing of expertise, data and research outcomes, the Centre aims to ensure that children worldwide benefit from its discoveries.

Around 2,000 staff, patient families and community members were consulted in the development of the site, spanning 20,000 square metres across the new Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and adjacent UNSW Health Translational Hub.

“Having leveraged our foundational $15-million contribution to help create Australia’s first children’s comprehensive cancer centre, Minderoo Foundation welcomes the progress on this world-leading collaboration,” said Professor Claire Wakefield, Director of the Foundation’s Collaborate Against Cancer initiative.

“We are delighted to have pledged a further $5 million, to be matched by a contribution from another philanthropic organisation.

“We are proud to be helping to realise an extraordinary vision to save the lives of children and young people with cancer and their families – and also to improve their quality of life as they undergo treatment for the disease.”

A collaboration between Children’s Cancer Institute; Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick; UNSW Sydney; and Minderoo Foundation, this state-of-the-art facility will house more than 900 researchers, scientists and clinicians, working side-by-side with the single goal of improving care and outcomes for children with cancer.

Co-locating world-leading paediatric clinical care and research, the Centre will feature purpose-built, technologically advanced lab spaces, cancer units, education zones and a public laboratory, designed to engage the community and showcase current and emerging technologies.

Professor Michelle Haber AM, Executive Director, Children’s Cancer Institute said: “Building on decades of success between Children’s Cancer Institute and Kid’s Cancer Centre, the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre will be globally leading with positive impact for children with cancer in Australia and internationally. “The vision for this Centre is to be the leading children’s comprehensive cancer centre worldwide, providing for the seamless integration of clinical care and research, with the goal of putting an end to childhood cancer.”