A united voice for change: RCD Foundation at Head to the Hill 2026

The Australian brain cancer community came together at Parliament House in Canberra for Head to the Hill 2026, calling for greater investment in research, improved access to care and stronger national advocacy.

The Great Hall at Parliament House was filled with shoes. Each pair represented a person, a family and a story. Some belonged to people living with brain cancer. Others were a heartbreaking reminder of lives lost far too soon.

It was a powerful visual tribute to the people behind the statistics, and a reminder of why the fight against brain cancer is so urgent.

Head to the Hill 2026 brought together patients, families, carers, researchers, clinicians and advocates, including representatives of the Australian Brain Tumour Collaborative, to call for meaningful change.

With five-year survival for brain cancer remaining at just 24%, compared with 72% across all cancers, the need for coordinated national action has never been clearer.

Turning advocacy into action

Backed by the Australian Brain Cancer Landscape 2026, the brain cancer community presented three key priorities to the Australian Government:

1. A Brain Cancer Research and Trials Roadmap

Co-design a national roadmap to guide brain cancer research and clinical trials, including priorities for $50 million in research funding.

2. A National Brain Tumour Navigator Program

Fund a national program to help people affected by brain cancer access specialist care, support and clinical trials, regardless of where they live.

3. Sustainable funding for national advocacy

Co-fund a National Advocacy Service with $725,000 annually for three years, ensuring patients and families have a strong, coordinated voice.

These priorities reflect a shared commitment to accelerating research, addressing inequalities in care and improving outcomes for everyone affected by brain cancer.

RCD Foundation lending our voice

RCD Foundation was proud to be represented at Head to the Hill, with our Head of Research, Dr Kim Wark, among the speakers contributing to this important national conversation.

For RCD, the call for greater investment in brain cancer research and improved access to clinical trials is particularly significant.

Brain cancer remains the number one disease killer of Australian children, and progress depends on sustained research investment, collaboration and ensuring promising discoveries can move towards better treatments.

Through our commitment to Research, Care and Development, RCD Foundation continues to support initiatives that advance paediatric brain cancer research and improve outcomes for young people and their families.

Events like Head to the Hill demonstrate what can be achieved when researchers, clinicians, families and advocacy organisations work together towards a shared goal.

Every pair of shoes tells a story

At the heart of Head to the Hill were the families who generously shared their experiences, their loved ones' stories and, in many cases, their shoes.

For families who have lost a child or loved one to brain cancer, these shoes represent so much more than an item of clothing. They represent milestones never reached, memories treasured and lives that should have been longer.

Their presence in Parliament House was a powerful reminder that behind every call for research funding, every clinical trial and every policy decision are real people and families hoping for a better future.

Around 70 advocates also met with Members of Parliament throughout the week, sharing their experiences and calling for action.

Stronger together

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Brain Tumour Alliance Australia for leading Head to the Hill 2026, and to the Australian Brain Tumour Collaborative and everyone involved in bringing the brain cancer community together.

Thank you to the families who shared their deeply personal stories, the advocates who met with decision-makers, and the researchers and clinicians working tirelessly to improve outcomes.

While Head to the Hill was an important moment for national advocacy, the work doesn't end when the shoes leave Parliament House.

Real progress requires continued collaboration, sustained investment and a commitment to turning awareness into action.

At RCD Foundation, we remain determined to change the odds for young people with brain cancer.

Together, we can help create a future where more children survive brain cancer, and go on to live long, healthy lives.