About Us

Helping people diagnosed with breast cancer through direct support and connection to services in the region.

Bosom Buddies is an independent grassroots charity and is the only organisation in the Canberra region dedicated solely to providing personalised on the ground support services to help individuals in the community affected by breast cancer.

Our history: In 1995, Shirley Fitzgerald formed a buddy group to support a friend who had recently been diagnosed and was preparing for breast cancer treatment. Acknowledging the reality that not everyone possessed a tight-knit social circle to rely on, Bosom Buddies was consequently established.

Today, Bosom Buddies remains a volunteer-driven organisation, predominantly made up of individuals who have personally battled breast cancer. Together, we are united in our dedication to uphold the mission of supporting all those affected by breast cancer and their families.

All funds stay in the area and are used to provide free support to people affected by breast cancer in Canberra and surrounding New South Wales region.

Management Committee

Our Management Committee boasts diversity, featuring breast cancer survivors and individuals from various professional backgrounds. Each member shares a passion for ensuring Bosom Buddies' ongoing ability to support the community for years to come.

The team comprises four (4) Office Bearers and five (5) ordinary members who work closely with the Executive Officer who provides regular reports on the status of our programs and the general business of the organisation.

A new team was appointed at the Annual General Meeting held at Pearce Community Centre in the ACT on 22nd November 2023.

Office Bearers

Gail Murray: President

Gail is the Principal Broker at Gallagher. She specialises in insurance for the Disability and Not For Profit Sector and is an endorsed broker for the National Disability Service.

Lynn Bean : Vice President

Before retiring, Lynn was a lawyer and Federal Government official in the Senior Executive Service (SES).

Justine Gibbings: Secretary

Justine has qualifications in statistics and data analysis gained in both Australia and Canada. Before retiring she worked in social policy mainly for the Department of Social Security (and its various successors). 

Jacklyn Ersan : Treasurer

Jacklyn is the Assistant Manager at Nexis Accountants and Business Advisors.

Ordinary Members

Shantanu Bhattacharya

Shantanu is our Public Officer. He is an enterprise architect and has over eighteen years of executive and board-level experience across the public and commercial sectors.

Lyn Grigg

Lyn is a qualified accountant and lectured at universities and TAFE on accounting policy before retiring. She is now very active in the LGBTIQA+ community and is also a member of the Qwire and an enthusiastic ukele player and drummer.

Heather Jackson

Heather has had a varied career in the public and not for profit sectors and has volunteered in many roles. As a breast cancer survivor she is eager to volunteer for Bosom Buddies, on the committee and also as part of the support team.

Narelle Sargent

Narelle has over 20 years experience as a pro-bono Board Director. She has extensive executive experience in NSW and ACT government, the private and not-for-profit sector.

Catherine Rider-Aichholzer : Executive Officer

Catherine has a medical secretarial background, having worked for senior consultants in Oncology and Radiotherapy at the Christie Hospital, Europe's largest single-site cancer centre. Later, she worked at the King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Transitioning into business improvement and management, she has opened international company offices and worked as an Executive Officer to senior business and government officials. Her extensive experience encompasses medical, corporate, government, and non-profit sectors.

A Bit About Bosom Buddies and What We Do

Bosom Buddies is an independent charity that has been dedicated to supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer in the ACT and surrounding NSW region for almost three decades. We offer a supportive community, valuable resources, and assistance to help you and your loved ones navigate this challenging journey.

We are the only charity in the Canberra region dedicated solely to providing personalised support to those affected by breast cancer in the region.

Unlike many of our cancer counterparts, Bosom Buddies operates solely on donations and does not receive funding from the government or larger national cancer organisations. This means that our ability to continue providing vital support relies entirely on the generosity of our community. Together, we can ensure that those affected by breast cancer in the region receive the support and help they need. 

People First: We are not a research organisation; our focus at Bosom Buddies is providing direct, on-the-ground emotional support to individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. Unlike larger cancer organisations, our team is small, with one dedicated individual working behind the scenes alongside our invaluable volunteers who generously donate their time to keep our local charity running. Our ability to continue serving the community hinges on the support of our wonderful volunteers, supporters, and donors. It is important to note that all donations stay local, directly benefiting people in our community affected by breast cancer. 

ACT and NSW Regional Support Groups: Our support team volunteers come from various age groups and stages in life, but they share a common bond – they are all breast cancer survivors who understand the challenges of the journey. They offer one-on-one peer support to individuals from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond. Additionally, they facilitate regular support groups for those navigating their own cancer path, all on a voluntary basis and in a safe, nurturing environment. These support groups provide a sense of belonging and a space for participants to openly share how they are feeling and connect with others who truly understand their experiences of facing or having faced a breast cancer diagnosis. 

Breast Awareness and Early Detection Presentations: Bosom Buddies provides information on the services and resources available in the region and conducts breast awareness sessions to the community to promote the importance of self-empowerment through regular breast examinations.  

Helping People get the Support They Need: When we secure grant funding, we support individuals diagnosed with breast cancer who face financial barriers in accessing post-surgery garments and treatments.  

Neoadjuvant (Oncology) Packs: We provide packs to oncology nurses for patients undergoing chemotherapy before surgery. This ensures that patients don’t miss out on the information given after surgery to patients. We also gift items crafted by volunteers, to show that we care, are here for them and to provide a warm hug during treatment.  

Buddy Bags: Ever heard of a Buddy Bag?  

Our Buddy Bags are filled with useful patients aids, known as Buddy Gifts, thoughtfully created by our volunteers. The bag also contains information on post-surgery care, and the services available in the region.  

In 2023, over 2,500 Buddy Gifts were created by our volunteers to fill more than 850 Buddy Bags that were gifted to patients treated in both Canberra’s public and  

private hospitals at a value of over $12,000. Sounds a lot, right?  

We would really appreciate your help is spreading the word so that we can keep supporting our community!  

Whether you are interested in volunteering, donating, or contributing in any capacity – your support would mean a lot to us.