Q&A with Dot’s Place Cancer Support Coordinator, Kate Moore

Kate Moore is a Cancer Support Coordinator at Dot’s Place, Bunbury – providing support for regional West Australians affected by cancer.

Pictured: Kate and Miles, the three-legged wonder dog

Dot’s Place offers a home-like atmosphere where people can access emotional support and assistance in navigating a range of services that are more commonly accessible in the metro area.

Available services include:

• Volunteer drivers who take clients to and from treatment.
• Wig service which allows clients with hair loss to try a combination of turbans and/or wigs.
• Providing a warm and safe space for support groups to meet.
• A space for our Face-to-Face Life Now Programs to occur.

Get to know more about Kate and Dot’s Place Bunbury by reading the Q&A below!

Q&A with Kate Moore

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I am currently enjoying fixing up my new house and trying to establish a garden! I love going to my local gym in the mornings before work and then a walk on the beach with Miles in the evening. I volunteer for POOPS (Pets of Older People) and currently walk a retired guide dog. I also try and play croquet when I can and spend as much time as possible with friends and family. Definitely settling into the Down South lifestyle!

What is your favourite part of working at Dot’s Place?

To be a total cliché, my favourite part of working at Dot’s Place is the people. I have the opportunity to help people while they are undergoing one of their most overwhelming experiences. Every day I meet the loveliest people, and in at least a small way I get to have a positive impact on their day.

I also adore our South West team, who works so well together, and seeing our volunteers who so generously lend us their time, expertise and beautiful personalities.

Finally, I am grateful for the support from the Centre Coordinators and Cancer Support Coordinators who are spread around the state who work so well together and help me to think outside the box and provide the best service to my clients as possible.

What difference do you see Dot’s Place Bunbury making to individuals’ experiences?

Dot’s Place provides a warm welcoming environment and time for individuals to give voice to their stories, their concerns and their questions. The most common word I hear on first meeting a client is “overwhelmed”, but by having the privilege of time to listen and knowing networks and supports available both locally and further afield, we can help alleviate this feeling.

In conjunction with our wonderful volunteers, Dot’s Place Bunbury also relieves more immediate concerns for clients by providing them access to services that may otherwise not be available. This includes funding our Transport to Treatment car, our face-to-face Wig Service and our face-to-face Life Now activities.

How do donations allow us to make these differences?

Every day, 36 West Australians hear the words “you have cancer” and then deal with feelings of shock, fear, anxiety, anger and/or loss of control. Thanks to generous donations, at Dot’s Place Bunbury we are able to support anyone affected by cancer by spending time listening to concerns and questions, providing information and connecting people to services within the local community, constantly working to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone

Why is it important that people continue to donate?

Our cancer support services are completely donor-funded. With your generosity we will be able to continue to provide vital support and relief for those affected by cancer in the South West community.

A word to our donors

THANK YOU! Without you, we would not be able to provide our wide range of practical, financial and emotional support. Even the smallest donation can have a large impact on someone with a cancer diagnosis.