Our story is not unique.

Robyn Wakefield and her three-year-old son Emmett have been travelling from Canberra to Sydney to access specialist paediatric oncology and haematology care at Westmead Children’s Hospital. The repeated journeys, including trips for chemotherapy, have placed a heavy physical, emotional and financial burden on their family.

After nearly 18 months of travelling back and forth, Robyn has spoken publicly about the need for a dedicated paediatric oncology and haematology service in Canberra. Her message is simple: families dealing with childhood cancer should not also have to carry the burden of geography.

Robyn told Region Canberra that the long journeys are more than an inconvenience for a child undergoing treatment. She described them as exhausting and physically punishing, while also explaining how difficult interstate travel assistance can be to navigate during a medical crisis.

Robyn’s petition calls on the ACT Government to establish a dedicated paediatric oncology and haematology unit in Canberra. The campaign also highlights the families from surrounding regional NSW who can face even longer journeys when they need specialist children's care.

The Region Canberra report noted that the petition was sponsored by ACT MLA Elizabeth Lee and had gathered more than 1,300 signatures in its first 48 hours, enough to meet the threshold for presentation to the ACT Legislative Assembly.