Little People, Big Lessons

Caroline Crofton knows that being an Education Advocate means being part tutor, part mentor, part listener, and knowing which role is needed in any given moment. She builds relationships with entire families, not just students, because she understands that cancer affects everyone. Working alongside classroom teachers, she creates bridges between hospital experiences and homework assignments, betwe...

Janelle Eddy has spent over 30 years in classrooms, from her first teaching post in the UK, to remote mining towns in the Pilbara, and she's discovered something wonderful: the best learning happens when you follow where a child's curiosity leads. On this episode of Little People, Big Lessons;  Janelle explains how she's seen countless education trends come and go, but one truth rem...

Marita Putland didn't become a teacher until she was 40 and she's learned that sometimes arriving late to your calling means you bring exactly what's needed. From primary schools to the justice system, she's taught in settings that shaped her understanding of what students truly need. Now, she brings the wisdom of a mother, grandmother, and experienced educator to families navi...

Sherrie and Teneille McBain have been navigating the aftermath of a leukaemia diagnosis since Teneille was one year old. Now 17, their journey reveals truths most people never consider: treatment ends, but the educational impacts don't. Getting diagnoses for "late effects" proved nearly impossible. Finding the right school environment took years. In this raw, honest conversation, mo...

“Connection before content, every single time”, are words Stuart Shields lives by. Stuart spent over 20 years in classrooms before burning out completely. The system that measured success through test scores felt increasingly at odds with what students actually needed. Then came an unexpected invitation to work with kids affected by cancer, not as a tutor, but as something more. Stuart talks hones...

Brooke Phillips thought she understood what children needed after cancer, until she watched future colleague and friend, Caroline, work in her classroom. What she witnessed changed everything. As a teacher, she saw firsthand how a dedicated advocate transformed not just one student's academic performance, but his entire sense of self. Now working as an advocate herself, Brooke shares what it&...

Kylie Dalton, CEO & Founder and Louise Shedden, Program Manager & Co-Founder, witnessed a devastating pattern, when childhood cancer treatment ended, the educational support vanished. But the cognitive effects, learning gaps, and emotional trauma remained. In this premiere episode, Kylie and Louise share the raw story of building Back on Track Foundation from the ground up. They reveal the...

Welcome to Little People, Big Lessons! This season, we're shifting the spotlight to the extraordinary people behind the Back on Track program - the educators, mentors, founders, and advocates who dedicate their lives to empowering childhood cancer survivors and their families. Hosted by Cassie Silver, join us as we celebrate the champions of hope who make recovery and resilience possible. Pow...

When 11-year-old Levi was diagnosed with rare and aggressive T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, his mum Vee faced a choice: live in fear or choose life. On this episode of Little People, Big Dreams, hear how one family's decision to say "yes" instead of "no" transformed their cancer journey. Discover the dramatic lifestyle changes that helped Levi's recovery, the he...

In our upcoming episode, we are honoured to share the powerful story of Katie and her brave son, Finlay Higgs. Diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk Hepatoblastoma at just 18 months old, Finlay has faced unimaginable challenges, including 11 rounds of intensive chemotherapy, nine surgeries, and multiple stays in intensive care. Despite enduring over 80 doses of chemo and countless scans and transfusion...

Join us in our next episode as we delve into the extraordinary journey of Marley Brown. Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at just 15 months old, Marley faced numerous challenges that impacted his early development. Despite these obstacles, Marley has never lost sight of his dreams. Now with the invaluable support of the Back on Track program, Marley is on a path to becoming a theoretica...

In our next episode, we welcome the Devantier family for an inspiring story of resilience and unity. Join mum Amy, Liam, and his siblings as they share their heartfelt accounts of Liam's cancer journey. Discover how the program "Back on Track" is not only providing Liam with the crucial support he needs but also uplifting and supporting the entire family. Through their shared experi...

In this poignant episode of "Little People, Big Dreams," we welcome Claire Gould and Barry Bauckham, parents who have bravely navigated their daughter Nova's 2.5-year battle with leukemia. Claire and Barry share their deeply personal journey, from the heart-wrenching moments of diagnosis to the arduous treatment process. As Nova returns to school post-treatment, they shed light on t...

On this episode of "Little People, Big Dreams," we sit down with Jenny Davies, a dedicated PhD researcher at Curtin University who has been profoundly touched by childhood cancer. Every year in Australia, around 770 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer. With increasing incidence and survival rates, more families are contending with life post-childhood cancer. Jenny&apos...

In the second episode of "Little People, Big Dreams," we sit down with the remarkable Tremane Baxter-Edwards. At just 17, Tremane has already overcome incredible adversity, battling abdominal Burkitts Lymphoma since the tender age of three. Hailing from the Ngarinyin and Walmajarri tribes of the Kimberley region, his story is one of resilience, strength, and unwavering determination. Tre...

"Little People, Big Dreams" is the exciting second season of the Australian podcast series "Little People, Big C," where we kick things off with an inspiring conversation featuring Program Manager Louise Shedden. To understand Louise's passion, you only need her in the hot seat for a few minutes. In this episode, she unpacks the transformative Back on Track program, celebr...

For this next guest, being the Child Cancer Research Foundation's Chief Operating Officer is more than a job, it's pure passion and an unwavering commitment to children; and you can hear that purpose in her voice. This inspiring conversation with Kylie Dalton takes listeners on a journey through her personal motivation for working in the field and her ultimate goal to see future generati...

Survival and finding better outcomes for cancer kids starts with science. On this episode, we delve into the world of research and what's being achieved in the Perth labs at the Telethon Kids Institute by esteemed researchers. One of those researchers is Associate Professor Joost Lesterhuis, a passionate and dedicated clinician and researcher who shares exciting insights into his involvement...

For Jane Hunt, her brave son Thomas' battle with cancer began when he was just two years old, but her connection to cancer has lingered a lot longer.  In this episode, Jane opens up about her newfound purpose and passion working as a Career Practitioner with Canteen Australia and shares how her perspective on life has changed since Thomas' diagnosis. Ignited by her son's cancer jour...

In this raw and authentic conversation with mother Andrea Boyd, listeners will be filled with heartache and hope as she shares her daughters childhood cancer story. When Emily was diagnosed with leukaemia at four years old, Andrea's world was turned upside down. Now, as Emily approaches the end of her treatment at almost six years old, Andrea shares how their family has overcome this difficul...

There are tears and laughter in this emotional and inspiring episode with parents David and Kate Madden, as they share their experience with childhood cancer and the legacy of their son.  The couple tragically lost their son Hunter to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2021. In the face of adversity, Kate and Dave set up the Hero Hunter Foundation , which aims to provide support to those who are nav...

Let's talk about science and research with Dr. Rishi Kotecha, oncologist and scientist with the Telethon Kids Institute. On this episode, we delve into the world of cancer research and shine a light on what is being achieved in the labs of Perth. Dr Kotecha authentically opens up about his professional and personal life, taking listeners, young and old, on a journey of hope and optimism for t...

Tegan Connolly is a mother with an inspiring story to share. Battling leukaemia at the tender age of two and a half, Tegan's son Logan is now thriving and cancer-free.   Strap yourselves in listeners and get ready to be uplifted as Tegan shares his triumphant fight against the disease. Plus, hear how her new career path was inspired by her son's cancer journey.  Support the show

To appreciate how far childhood cancer research has come we need to go back to the beginning to pay tribute to the founding members and their quest to find better outcomes for kids. Cassie Silver sat down with Chairman Geoff Cattach and Professor Ursula Kees to give listeners a snapshot into the early days and the mission behind the CCRF.  Support the show

They’re the words no parent ever wants to hear, “your child has cancer”. For mum Amy Devantier her son Liam’s Burkitt's lymphoma diagnosis turned their world upside down, when he was just seven years old. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, there was light at the end of the tunnel for Liam and his family. Amy shares her story to offer comfort, support and hope to other parents, friends and...