COUCH Cancer Hub NQ

COUCH Cancer Hub NQ is a community-founded cancer support organisation in Cairns North, offering practical, evidence-based care for people living with cancer, as well as their families and carers. Its aim is to improve quality of life and make the health system easier to navigate, with support available from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Services include cancer-care nursing, personalised exercise and gym classes, oncology and lymphoedema massage, educational and therapeutic workshops, GP support and dietetics.

The hub’s approach brings several forms of care together in one welcoming setting. Alongside clinical and physical support, it provides opportunities for social connection and wellbeing, helping people find guidance and community close to home in Far North Queensland. The service is designed for people at different points in their cancer journey, including those newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, living with cancer or supporting someone else.

One featured program is Breath and Qi, a low-impact class combining gentle movement with mindful breathing. Participants can practise seated, standing or lying down, and the class is intended for all fitness levels and mobility. It offers an active alternative to traditional meditation, with techniques aimed at easing tension, supporting focus and helping manage stress and anxiety. Sessions are held in a small-group format with an experienced facilitator, creating space for personal attention and connection. An Exercise Physiologist pre-assessment is required before taking part.

COUCH’s roots stretch back to 2006, when Cairns residents Charles and Pip Woodward founded the organisation to advocate for better local oncology services. Community fundraising and advocacy helped bring oncology treatment to Cairns, including the opening of the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre at Cairns Hospital in 2011. The COUCH Wellness Centre opened in 2019 and was renamed COUCH Cancer Hub NQ in 2025 to reflect its broader role. Today, the organisation continues to raise funds, advocate for cancer care in the region and deliver research-driven wellbeing programs. It suits individuals seeking informed support, as well as families and carers looking for a compassionate local service.