Rare Cancers Australia
Rare Cancers Australia is a registered Australian nonprofit charity (founded 2012) that delivers one-on-one navigator-led support, a curated rare-cancer KnowledgeBase, peer support groups, crisis funding, and clinician education for Australians diagnosed with rare, less common, and complex cancers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rare Cancers Australia does
Rare Cancers Australia Ltd (RCA) is a registered Australian nonprofit charity founded in 2012 and headquartered in Bowral, NSW, with a regional office in Wollongong. It is the only organization in Australia providing comprehensive, tailored support specifically for patients with rare, less common, and complex cancers (those with incidence below 12 per 100,000, plus complex cases). Approximately 42,000 Australians are diagnosed with a rare cancer each year, representing one in four cancer diagnoses nationally.
RCA's service portfolio centers on a Patient Support Program in which Specialist Cancer Navigators deliver one-on-one clinical, emotional, financial, and practical assistance, complemented by a curated KnowledgeBase platform that aggregates information on hundreds of rare cancer types, health professionals, clinical trials, support services, and cancer treatment centres. Adjacent digital tools include the ARC Portal (Australian Rare Cancer Portal, for expert opinion and clinical trial access), the Medicines Access Portal (off-label and access program navigation), disease-specific Support Groups, a one-on-one Peer Support matching service, the Education Hub for clinicians, the printed/digital Rare Cancer Support Guide, and content channels (Inside Rare newsletter, Radio Rare and Rare Bites podcasts, webinars). Crisis funding is distributed via a Patient Treatment Fund, and the Mummy's Wish program supports mothers with cancer who have young children.
RCA funds operations primarily through tax-deductible donations, fundraising events (Kosi Challenge, Dry July, Rare Cancer Awareness Day, CanForum), workplace giving, and corporate sponsorships, with Genesis Care and Ramsay Health publicly supporting the KnowledgeBase and Icon Cancer Centre supporting the national awareness campaign. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a board led by CEO Christine Cockburn, with co-founders Kate Vines and Richard Vines serving in board/founder capacities. There is no institutional investor or venture capital backing; ownership and governance remain with the charitable entity and its board.
Rare Cancers Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rare Cancers Australia
- Legal name
- Rare Cancers Australia Ltd
- Website
- https://rarecancers.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rare Cancers Australia is a registered Australian nonprofit charity (founded 2012) that delivers one-on-one navigator-led support, a curated rare-cancer KnowledgeBase, peer support groups, crisis funding, and clinician education for Australians diagnosed with rare, less common, and complex cancers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rare Cancers Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Patient Support Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)
Keywords
Where Rare Cancers Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rare Cancers Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: RCA operates as a registered charity with tax-deductible donation capabilities. Revenue is generated through one-time and recurring donations, fundraising events, and bequests/legacy giving. The organization runs fundraising campaigns including the Kosi Challenge, Dry July, and individual patient fundraising pages through their Patient Treatment Fund.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: RCA receives support from corporate partners who sponsor events, fund programs, or provide in-kind support. The KnowledgeBase is proudly supported by Genesis Care and Ramsay Health.
- Workplace Giving: Employees can donate through workplace giving programs, providing a steady stream of small recurring donations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Rare Cancers Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) is a registered Australian charity that provides comprehensive support services for people diagnosed with rare, less common, and complex cancers. The core offering is the Patient Support Program, where Specialist Cancer Navigators deliver one-on-one tailored clinical, emotional, financial, and practical assistance, supplemented by the KnowledgeBase digital resource covering cancer types, specialists, clinical trials, and support services.
Product overview
Rare Cancers Australia offers a comprehensive suite of patient support and information services for Australians affected by rare and less common cancers. The core offering consists of the Patient Support Program providing one-on-one Specialist Cancer Navigator support, complemented by the KnowledgeBase database covering cancer types, health professionals, clinical trials, and services. Educational resources include the Education Hub with cancer-specific modules, while clinical decision support is provided through the ARC Portal and Medicines Access Portal. Peer support is delivered through managed Support Groups and one-on-one matching. Financial assistance includes crisis funding and a patient treatment fund. Information is disseminated via the Rare Cancer Support Guide (print and digital), Inside Rare Newsletter, Radio Rare Podcast, and Rare Bites Podcast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mummy's Wish Program: Practical support program for mums with cancer who have young children
- The Jem Program
Products and services
- Patient Support Program One-on-one tailored support from Specialist Cancer Navigators who serve as the first point of contact after a rare cancer diagnosis, providing clinical, emotional, financial, and practical assistance to patients and families across Australia.
- Mummy's Wish Program Practical support program specifically for mothers diagnosed with cancer who have young children.
- KnowledgeBase Comprehensive searchable database providing information on hundreds of rare and less common cancer types, health professionals, clinical trials, support services, and cancer treatment centres across Australia.
- Education Hub Free educational modules and resources for health professionals covering gynaecological cancers, thoracic cancers, male urogenital cancers, and primary care, incorporating evidence-based knowledge and patient lived experiences.
- Rare Cancer Support Guide Comprehensive printed and digital guide divided into four sections (diagnosis, treatment, relationships and support, looking ahead) providing trusted information, tools, and advice for anyone impacted by rare cancer.
- ARC Portal (Australian Rare Cancer Portal) Access to expert opinion and advice on management guidelines, testing options, and clinical trials for rare cancer cases.
- Medicines Access Portal Resource providing information on accessing medications for rare cancer patients through various access programs not available through usual pathways in Australia.
- Support Groups Facilitated support groups for specific cancer types including adrenocortical carcinoma, GIST, gynaecological cancers, male urogenital, medullary thyroid, sarcoma, thymoma, rare cancer carers, Rare Connect, and Mummy's Wish, conducted via private Facebook groups and monthly Microsoft Teams meetings.
- Peer Support One-on-one matching with another person living with cancer or caring for someone with cancer, providing emotional support and shared experiences.
- Financial Support Services Includes crisis payments for transport, accommodation, medical bills and expenses; patient treatment fund for fundraising; and guidance on government support and professional financial advice.
- Radio Rare Podcast Podcast series exploring the reality of rare cancers, innovation, and advocacy to inform and connect the rare cancer community.
- Rare Bites Podcast Podcast breaking down complicated cancer-related topics into easier-to-digest, bite-size episodes.
- Inside Rare Newsletter Monthly newsletter sharing latest news, events, and stories connecting the rare cancer community, distributed to subscribers at the end of each month.
- The Jem Program Patient support program offered as a sub-brand by Rare Cancers Australia.
Companies that use Rare Cancers Australia
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rare Cancers Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rare Cancers Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting partner.
- Genesis Caresupporting partnerGenesis Care proudly supports the RCA KnowledgeBase, providing sponsorship that helps maintain and develop this comprehensive resource for rare cancer patients, health professionals, and caregivers.
- Ramsay Healthsupporting partnerRamsay Health proudly supports the RCA KnowledgeBase, helping RCA provide comprehensive cancer information and resources to the rare cancer community.
- Icon Cancer Centresupporting partnerIcon Cancer Centre supports RCA's national awareness campaign 'Rare in name, not in numbers' and is mentioned in patient stories as a treatment provider for rare cancer patients.
- TIS Nationalsupporting partnerTIS National provides interpreter services, allowing RCA to connect with patients who need language support. Patients can call TIS on 131 450 to be connected to RCA.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rare Cancers Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rare Cancers Australia social profiles
Digital presenceRare Cancers Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rare Cancers Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Rare Cancers Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rare Cancers Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rare Cancers Australia
What does Rare Cancers Australia do?
Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) is a registered Australian charity that provides comprehensive support services for people diagnosed with rare, less common, and complex cancers. The core offering is the Patient Support Program, where Specialist Cancer Navigators deliver one-on-one tailored clinical, emotional, financial, and practical assistance, supplemented by the KnowledgeBase digital resource covering cancer types, specialists, clinical trials, and support services.
Is Rare Cancers Australia a public or private company?
Rare Cancers Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rare Cancers Australia founded?
Rare Cancers Australia was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rare Cancers Australia based?
Rare Cancers Australia is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Rare Cancers Australia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships and workplace Giving.
Does Rare Cancers Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rare Cancers Australia.
What industry is Rare Cancers Australia in?
Rare Cancers Australia's product category is Patient Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAM, Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8090.