Primary School Cancer Education Program - Camp Quality
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Our travelling puppet shows for preschools and primary schools answer the difficult questions kids have about cancer. The shows dispel common myths and misconceptions, and teach students how to be supportive and understanding of kids facing cancer – all of which helps to prevent bullying and exclusion.

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Primary School Cancer Education Program

Camp Quality Primary School Cancer Education Program - puppeteer performs with puppet in front of school children

Our Primary School Cancer Education Program, featuring the Camp Quality Puppets, helps schools create supportive communities for any child impacted by cancer, whether they are dealing with their own cancer diagnosis or the diagnosis of a sibling, mum, dad or carer. 

The Performance

Our puppets provide fun, interactive and age-appropriate cancer education that helps to dispel common misunderstandings and provide a shared language to facilitate cancer conversations. There is no cost for the school or students.
There are two shows aimed at different age groups: 

  • Caring Friend caters to kindergarten and lower primary students (up to Year 2) and runs for approximately 30 minutes.  
  • Caped Crusader caters to upper primary students (up to Year 6) and runs for approximately 60 minutes. 

We can perform up to three shows per day with a maximum of 250 students per session.

Our program relates to kids on their level and explores themes relevant to the cancer experience, including:

  • You can’t catch cancer from someone else
  • Treatments and side-effects of cancer
  • How to be supportive of someone facing cancer
  • The importance of recognising our own strengths and the power of positivity   

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Resources For Teachers

To complement the puppet performances, we offer ‘Teacher Resource Packs’. The pack provides age-appropriate cancer information and further learning opportunities on the social and emotional impacts for a child facing cancer.

Teacher lesson plans
  • ACT, NT, QLD, SA, TAS (aligned to the EYLF and Australian Curriculum)
  • NSW (aligned to the EYLF and New South Wales Curriculum)
  • VIC (aligned to the EYLF and Victorian Curriculum)
  • WA (aligned to the EYLF and Western Australian Curriculum)

More resources

For Parents

Our puppet shows help to reduce the likelihood of bullying, confusion, exclusion and anxiety that can follow a cancer diagnosis. For children facing cancer, this makes the transition from hospital back to school a little less daunting.

For children who have a family member with a cancer diagnosis, it helps them relate to their peers who’ll gain an understanding of what their family is going through.

Request a show for your child's school today

Here are some other resources you might find useful:

Pina Passerello, Deputy Principal

What a great visit from the Camp Quality puppets! All of our students loved seeing the puppets. It's helped in our understanding of how children with cancer can be supported. We will all be prepared for when one of our students returns next term, after his cancer treatment.

Principal, VIC

This puppet show is superb. It delivers a key message in a manner that is accessible for all. It dispels myths about cancer and raises the awareness of all people not just those who are directly affected by it. The presenters were outstanding; passionate, professional, committed, entertaining and full of enthusiasm. Thank you so much for giving our students the opportunity to participate and to realise that laughter really is the best medicine!

Rafael’s Mum

I want to thank you for your visit to his school. You made a real difference. Rafael at the end of the show told me: 'Mum I'm a super hero because I'm not afraid of cancer!' That, to me, makes all of your hard work already worth it.

Sophie, Camp Quality Kid

When Camp Quality visited my school and taught the kids about leukaemia like I have the bullying stopped and I was happy.

Year 1 Teacher, QLD

The Program raises awareness amongst their peers about the journey they’re going on. It allows their peers some understanding of what is happening to their friend and eliminates some of the preconceived perceptions these children may have had about children with cancer. In a sense it 'normalised' living with cancer at a level the children could connect with. It has also opened the topic up for discussion. Information is powerful. I find once children have been given information on the topic, they are understanding and approach things in a more relaxed and open way than if the topic (cancer) is not discussed.

Year 2 Teacher, WA

I just wanted to let you know that we loved the Camp Quality puppet show. I thought the actors were terrific & they really took the time to talk to the kids before & after the show. The messages were well received & your online resources were great too. Oliver has been wearing the badge that he was given in his prize pack every day on his uniform & he is definitely a bit more confident.

Aidan's Dad

Camp Quality recently visited my son's school. The show was brilliant. The kids and teachers enjoyed the puppets and all learnt something about Aidan's illness and his changing appearance. It provided an opportunity for Aidan to catch up with his classmates and a chance for all of us to open communication with the school and the teachers. To see a smile and hear laughter from our son was a golden moment. Great job Camp Quality and the puppets (including Dean). Keep up the good work.

Early Childcare Centre Director, NSW

We have always supported the families affected by cancer at our centre but this gave us as educators and all the children a better understanding of what the children and families go through. The program was presented in a very age appropriate way to the children and the child affected was able to talk to her peers about what she went through.

Josh and Mia's Mum

Our warmest thanks for sending the amazing puppets to our children's school. Both Josh and Mia were full of excitement when I picked them up and couldn't wait to tell me all about the puppets and then show me the balloons and fantastic gifts they had been given. Josh came directly from the hospital and made it just in time to see the show, so the timing was perfect!

The feedback from the staff and other students has been really wonderful and we are so grateful to Camp Quality for providing this fabulous, informative program.

Matt's Mum

The Camp Quality puppets came to our school today and they were fantastic! Sibling Matt has just started Year 4 at this school after our big move from Sydney. He was shy and worried what people will think of his 'different' sister in prep. This was a positive experience for him, helping to normalise it for him and his peers. Our sincere thank you Camp Quality

Michele Midgley, Yr 4 teacher

Camp Quality has a focus of helping children and families living with cancer. They stress the importance of laughing, having fun and special times together. The presenters clearly presented the message that 'it is not what we look like that is important, but who we are on the inside'. There were messages of positive support for friends, resilience and understanding. It was presented in a fun and educational way that our students could grasp.

Mikey’s Mum

After my son's class had been to their session, one of the younger boys asked him if he had cancer (it was the first time he was at school without a hat). Mikey said yes and the boy responded: 'don't worry, your hair will grow back, we just heard all about it!'
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