"The goal is to make childhood cancer non-fatal." – Dr. Andrew Forrest
Australia’s First Fully Integrated Children’s Cancer Centre Opens in Sydney
The Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MCCCC) has officially opened at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick, marking the completion of Australia's first purpose-built, fully integrated facility for children and young people with cancer. The centre uniquely combines specialized treatment, research, and education under one roof.
Facility and Capacity
The MCCCC is a key component of the $658 million Sydney Children's Hospital Stage One and Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre project. Designed to foster collaboration, the facility can accommodate up to 900 child cancer professionals, including clinicians, scientists, and allied health workers.
It houses a range of specialized spaces:
- Research laboratories for cutting-edge science
- Treatment centres for direct patient care
- Child-friendly inpatient facilities designed for comfort
- Family-focused amenities to support loved ones
- A virtual care centre for patients in rural and remote areas
- Education and training facilities shared with the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
This integration is designed to bring together research, clinical care, and education to accelerate the development of new treatments.
Integrated Operations
The centre unites personnel from the Children's Cancer Institute, the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and researchers from UNSW Sydney in a single location. This co-location is intended to break down traditional silos, speeding the translation of laboratory breakthroughs into clinical therapies for young patients.
Funding and Contributions
Financial support was provided by the New South Wales and federal governments. Additional philanthropic contributions came from the Children's Cancer Institute, the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, UNSW, and the Minderoo Foundation.
On the day of the opening (06 May 2026), the Minderoo Foundation announced an additional $3.6 million commitment to the MCCCC, following a previous $20 million contribution. This new funding is specifically designated for research programs incorporating:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) technology
- Immunotherapy
- Liquid biopsy technology
- The Zero Childhood Cancer (ZERO) precision medicine program
Over the past five years, the Minderoo Foundation has committed a total of $134.6 million to cancer research, treatment, and infrastructure.
Official Statements
The centre was officially opened by federal Health Minister Mark Butler, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr. Michael Holland, and Dr. Andrew Forrest.
- Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler stated that the opening of the centre is something all Australians should be proud of, and described the facility as the first purpose-built, fully integrated cancer centre for children and young people in Australia, focused on improving healthcare outcomes.
- Dr. Andrew Forrest, founder of the Minderoo Foundation, stated that the goal is to make childhood cancer non-fatal and that the facilities will help achieve that.
- Nicola Forrest AO expressed pride in supporting the facility and the clinicians working to save young lives.
- UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs stated that the MCCCC is intended to accelerate development of new treatments for young patients by bringing research and care together.