Financial support

Orange Hearts Bursary Program

Orange Hearts is a bursary grant program of Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation to give one off financial aid to someone impacted by cervical cancer whether for themselves, their family, dependants or closely affiliated person supported by them.
The aid is offered in good faith in circumstances where someone’s financial resources are limited and the aid is intended for use on activities, resources, goods or services to support the applicant, their family dependants or closely affiliated person to assist them to cope with the direct or indirect detrimental impact of their cervical cancer diagnosis and subsequent journey.

Aid will be in the form of a gratuity of up to $500 awarded to assist with the cost of activities, resources, good or services that are important to the applicant but which may be difficult to acquire or fund as a result of the financial or other circumstances of dealing with a cervical cancer diagnosis and journey.
These include but are not limited to sums already paid or to be paid in near future for:

practical education needs, such as books, stationery, fees, computer equipment
costs of items like medical and support services, medications, counselling, transport, rent, groceries, repairs, clothing, mortgage or loan payments, utility and rates expenses
recreational, creative arts, social or sports activities including training/classes, uniform and membership or entry fees.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to applicant/recipients who have at any time been diagnosed with cervical cancer and are still undergoing their journey, up until the point in time 1 year after where their doctor has confirmed in writing that they are in remission or clear of the disease. Reliable proof may be requested.
The applicant may need the aid for themselves or for a support person (parent, step-parent, child, guardian, sibling, cousin, grandparent, aunt/uncle, benefactor or closely affiliated person supported by them) who reasonably may be considered to rely on the applicant.

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Process

Download the application form or contact info@accf.org.au, then accurately complete form and submit with copies of any relevant documents to info@accf.org.au
Applications will be reviewed by ACCF to ensure they meet all requirements and you will be contacted to confirm that application is received.
Applications will be individually assessed and after ratification by the ACCF Board. Decisions about success or refusal of applications is at ACCF’s unfettered discretion and no contract or legal obligation exists. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be informed as soon as practical for ACCF to do so.
Payment details will be arranged and presentation of each Bursary will be made in a manner and at time and place determined by ACCF following consultation with individual successful applicants.

Conditions of Bursary

Applications are requested to be lodged by the end of January, May and November of each year. Funding periods will provide support for one year and the aid is to be used within one year of being granted.
Bursary recipients authorise ACCF to share their stories by media, website, social media, at events or other distribution channels as requested by ACCF at no fee or cost to ACCF and copyright is given to ACCF.
There will be a limited number of Bursaries in each 12 month period which will be at ACCF’s discretion. If there are more suitable applications than there are Bursaries available, ACCF in its absolute discretion, will determine which applications are successful. Unsuccessful applicants may apply again at the next opportunity if they still meet eligibility.
There is no intention on the part of ACCF or the applicant or other person to be legally bound. Applying for a Bursary does not create any contractual, legal or equitable right or any other relationship with ACCF or its employees’ board members or representatives and does not give any right or expectation of any appeal or review process.

Meet our recipients

Dannii

Dannii, a cervical cancer survivor is the proud mum of her two daughters who were bursary recipients in 2022. She reflected that:

“Not only is cancer tough to physically and mentally fight, but it’s also hard financially whilst you’re fighting it and beyond. I still have check-ups and medication that cost money, so having my girls be able to receive the Orange Heart Bursaries was an amazing help! The money from the bursary paid for Ilara’s netball season & Ariana’s gymnastics lessons.”

- Dannii

Families like Dannii’s are why ACCF introduced the Orange Hearts Program in 2021. In her words:

“How amazing is this. What a great way to give back to the little people in our lives, who are our biggest supporters and our strength to get through tough times like fighting cancer.”

- Dannii

Kate (2023 recipient)

“It cannot be expressed in words how grateful we are to receive an Orange Hearts Bursary. The financial costs that we have had to endure has definitely impacted us as a family and has had an impact on our children. The bursary will give our children new opportunities and help fund activities they love to do.”

- Kate

Keeley (2023 recipient)

“I feel very privileged and grateful to be chosen for this bursary to help me continue with my dancing”

- Keeley

Golsby-Smith family (2023 recipients)

“Receiving the Orange Hearts Bursaries will help our family incredibly. My cancer diagnosis in October 2022 was such a shock for our family and I started treatment the week of Christmas. The children didn't get to have much of a Christmas or summer holiday because I was so unwell, and we had gone down to one income. This money will allow us to give the children things which will help support their mental health during this difficult time. We cannot thank you enough.”

- Amelia Golsby-Smith

FAQs

When are Orange Hearts bursaries awarded?

An application can be lodged by the end of January, May or November each year. Grants aim to financially assist someone impacted by cervical cancer, to help cope with the direct or indirect detrimental impact of their cervical cancer diagnosis and subsequent journey.

How do you apply for an Orange Hearts Bursary?

Applications are made by downloading the application form available on the ACCF website, completing and signing it and emailing the completed form with copies of any relevant documents to info@accf.org.au . Alternatively email info@accf.org.au and request a form.

How do you qualify to apply for an Orange Hearts Bursary?

Orange Hearts grants aims to help people who are on their journey with cervical cancer when they have limited resources to cope with the direct or indirect detrimental impact of their diagnosis. The aid may help them personally or their family, dependants or closely affiliated person supported by them:

Applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

be aged 18 years or older.
been diagnosed with cervical cancer and are still on their journey even until 1year after. remission

be an Australian citizen or currently live in Australia
can benefit from financial help to pay bills to keep life as normal as possible for themselves and closely affiliated people
have not received an Orange Hearts bursary in the previous year.

For more information, see the Guidelines

What can bursary funding be used for?

Any reasonable bills that you are finding it difficult to pay for, in order to keep your life as normal as possible during your cervical cancer journey. Costs covered must be for you or a closely affiliated person who usually expects your support. Costs can be already spent, or due in near future, we will request invoices. This can include educational need, medical or support services, counselling, rent, groceries, clothing, rent, loan payments utility & phone bills, social or sporting activities etc. Definitely not gambling, alcohol or tobacco/vapes etc.

What information is required in the application?

Please complete the application form accurately, information required includes:

personal details
evidence of a cervical cancer diagnosis
information or invoice to validate the expenditure
practicality of the use of funds
permission to use images and stories about the use of bursary funds.

How are the Orange Hearts bursary recipients chosen?

ACCF will choose the Orange Hearts bursary recipients by assessing the application on basis of:

Includes all the required information
demonstrates the impact of a cervical cancer diagnosis
demonstrates the need for funding
alignment with the ACCF mission to support people with cervical cancer.

How much is a bursary worth?

Bursary amounts can range up to a maximum of $500. There will be a number of bursaries available each year completely at ACCF’s discretion, depending on amount of available funding and suitability of applications.

How will the bursaries be paid?

If you have been successful as a bursary recipient, ACCF will contact you using the contact details in your application and organise how payment can be made for you.

Can I apply more than once?

If your application is not successful you can apply at the next lodgement date. ACCF may contact you to say that you do not need to lodge a fresh application as your current application will be automatically reconsidered.

If you are successful and you are still in need of further support, you may apply again 8 months after your previous successful application. Pleas be aware however that ACCF may give preference to applicants who have not yet been granted a bursary.