A 17-Year-Old’s Fight for Healthcare Support
A 17-year-old girl from Sydney, who is battling leukaemia, was recently required to visit a Centrelink office in her wheelchair so that staff could “sight” her. This request came despite her mother’s concerns about her immunosuppressed condition and the risks associated with such an outing.
The Centrelink visit was part of multiple attempts made by Maddison Delaney and her mother, Renee, over the past 18 months to qualify for a Health Care Card. Unfortunately, all these efforts have been unsuccessful.
Maddison’s mother expressed frustration at being caught in what she described as a bureaucratic maze. According to Ms. Delaney, her daughter was either considered too old or too young, or “not sick enough” to qualify for the Health Care Card, which would significantly reduce the cost of Maddison’s chemotherapy medications.
One particular incident stood out to Ms. Delaney. She recalled that when her daughter had no immune system, was bald, and was using a wheelchair with a mask on, Centrelink staff insisted she needed to come in for a sight check.
“This was so degrading and unnecessary,” Ms. Delaney said. “We had medical certificates and doctors’ statements confirming her diagnosis. They didn’t need to see her, and they felt bad about it too, but their hands were tied due to the bureaucracy.”
The Petition for Change
This experience led Maddison to start an online petition protesting the challenges faced by cancer patient families in qualifying for a Health Care Card. The petition has already gathered over 6,800 signatures.
Maddison was diagnosed with leukaemia in October 2016. As a Year 12 student from the Northern Beaches, she underwent eight months of intensive chemotherapy at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick.
Her medication was covered by Medicare while she was in the hospital. However, once she became an outpatient in June of last year, her family was forced to pay for her “maintenance” doses of chemotherapy, which will continue until the end of the year.
“We don’t want money from Centrelink; we just want this Health Care Card to help with the medication costs,” Maddison explained. “I think we’ve tried applying for it about five times.”
She noted that Centrelink workers were usually very supportive when they learned about her situation. However, they often had to reject the applications due to strict criteria.
“Just a month ago, I got a call from Centrelink, and the person I spoke to was lovely. But he said I didn’t have enough of a disability. Then another call came saying because I don’t have a terminal illness and my treatment is going to end in a year, they don’t want to give me the card.”
Financial Strain and Broader Impact
Maddison estimates that her family spends a few hundred dollars a month on her medications. While this isn’t a huge amount, it adds up over time.
“I think we’re lucky because my dad has a business, and we’re financially stable. But some parents, like my mum, have had to quit their jobs when their children are so sick,” she said.
“There are other people who don’t have that financial cushion. The campaign isn’t just for me; it’s for everyone who has struggled with this.”
Department of Human Services Response
A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services responded to the situation, stating:
“The department has made contact with Ms. Delaney’s family to ensure she is receiving all appropriate support and payments.”
“The department recognises that medical conditions can have a significant impact on people’s lives. However, we do not have any discretion to provide payments or concession cards outside the criteria set down in legislation.”
It is understood that under the department’s rules, individuals are not eligible for the Health Care Card unless they are receiving benefits from Centrelink.
