Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC)

The Wellness Centre is 100% community funded, and is a welcoming retreat for cancer patients and their families and carers to use during and after treatment. The centre provides a range of support services and programs – all free of charge.

“Support, relief, caring, understanding, education. These are my words for the Wellness Centre. Knowing the Wellness Centre is readily available is a great support and knowing that other people care and understand what I’m experiencing both physically and mentally is beneficial.”

Jenny, patient

The BRICC Wellness Centre provides a range of programs, including one-on-one sessions, support groups, group sessions and workshops. These programs support the mental, physical, social and emotional health of patients. Programs include massage, relaxation, mindfulness, shiatsu therapy, bra and breast form fittings, financial advice, support groups, yoga, meditation, walking groups and the Delta Dog program. The space itself is calm, nurturing and offers comfortable seating, a warm space, refreshments and fresh fruit for all of its visitors from Ballarat and the wider region.

“The Wellness Centre was a wonderful haven of peace and quiet for me to relax in, after I had received my 35 radiotherapy sessions for treating the recurrence of prostate cancer.

It was somewhere I could have a massage, enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit or piece of fruit, read, watch tv or use the computer. The facilities were excellent, thank you.”

Paul, patient

“My first appointment with the massage therapist remains vivid in my mind, I was unable to lay on the table as I was quite uncomfortable following mastectomy. For the first time in weeks being touched was nurturing and healing as opposed to having something taken from me. The massage is an essential part of my recovery, physically, and more importantly, emotionally. There is so much pushing, poking, tests, questions, fears, tears, it has been really important for me to be able to be replenished, to be taken to 'another place' outside of chemo/cancer/radiation, a place that is gentle and healing.”

Brook

Your fundraising for Dry July has enabled the Ballarat Health Services Foundation to support these wonderful programs at BRICC Wellness Centre, including nearly 1000 massages to cancer patients within the Ballarat and Grampians region.

The funds raised by participants of Dry July 2021 will help Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer (BRICC) continue to run their incredible wellness centre.

The Centre is a retreat space for patients and carers to utilise both during and post-treatment, completely funded by local people.

The many programs on offer at the Centre are complimentary to all cancer patients from Bacchus Marsh to the SA border, helping provide support for their emotional, social, financial and spiritual needs during their battle with cancer.

Thank you! 

With Dry July a little over the halfway mark, if you need a reminder of why dry, please watch this clip of Stephen Brown, BHS Clinical Director of Medical Oncology, discussing the importance of community support for the Wellness Centre and cancer patients. To view his message click HERE.  

Shayne and Denise Wren have both accessed the programs on offer at Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) Wellness Centre during their cancer treatments. Both Shayne and Denise can not speak highly enough of the many complimentary services that are on offer to all patients. Their daughter Gabrielle is also on board, she reflects on how beneficial the Centre has been for their family during the most challenging of times.

We thank the Wren’s for their support in helping raise awareness and in turn, helping cover costs of the services on offer at the Wellness Centre that is proudly 100% funded by community.