What is The Gawler Foundation?
The Gawler Foundation is a not for profit, registered charity that promotes the integrated management of cancer, MS and other serious illness.
Founded by Ian Gawler in 1981 as the Australian Cancer Patients Foundation we initially assisted mainly with people affected by cancer. Since that time The Foundation has grown and now focuses on both healing and wellbeing.
The Gawler Foundation was Australia’s first cancer support service and it also conducted the first active cancer support group in Australia. We are now developing a broad network of Cancer Self Help Support Groups in Melbourne and throughout Australia and New Zealand.
For 25 years, The Foundation has helped thousands of Australians and people worldwide through its programs in cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS) management, disease prevention, stress management and counselling.
Anyone diagnosed with cancer will benefit from considering their lifestyle. Just as with heart disease and diabetes, cancer is affected by diet, exercise, stress, and a person’s state of mind. For people with a good cancer prognosis, their treatment will be well-supported by The Gawler Foundation’s lifestyle programs – increasing the possibility of full recovery, minimising side-effects and reliably leading to sustainable peace of mind.
The Foundation receives no government funding and relies totally on the generosity, shared vision and commitment of schools, volunteers, foundations, businesses and individuals.
Who is Ian Gawler OAM?
In 1975, Ian Gawler, a veterinarian and decathlete, developed osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and had his right let amputated. Later that year the cancer returned and he was given a bleak prognosis. Ian and his then wife Grace started to explore alternative therapies which included meditation, organic vegan diet and loving support.
In 1978, Ian was declared cancer-free and his remission was reported in the Medical Journal of Australia. In 1981 Ian started Australia’s first Cancer Support Group to assist people with their own challenge with cancer.
Ian still works with The Gawler Foundation and is its Founder and Therapeutic Director, responsible for all aspects of the therapeutic program.
Why does The Gawler Foundation advocate Integrative Medicine?
Any serious illness has an enormous impact on the wellbeing of patients, their families, the healthcare system, and the wider community. As such, managing illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, requires a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach utilising evidence-based medicine, lifestyle advice and education, and complementary therapies.
This approach or ‘social model of health’ is best described as Integrative Medicine.
The Gawler Foundation is of the view that Integrative Medicine is the best paradigm for the treatment and management of cancer, MS and other serious illness. This approach aims to foster the best outcomes for patients, families and the community through informed decision-making and the provision of skills, resources and information.
Our programs teach patients how to get the best out of what they might be doing medically, as well as how to proactively use their own resources in the context of their daily life to manage their illnesses and wellbeing.
Integrative Medicine advocates a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach utilising evidence-based medical and surgical treatments, lifestyle advice and complementary therapies.
What kind of programs does The Gawler Foundation offer?
We offer two program models, Healing and Wellbeing.
• Life and Living 10 day program
• Health, Healing and Beyond 5 day follow-up program
• Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis (5 day)
• Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis Follow up (5 day)
• Healing Meditation Retreat
• Living in Balance 5 day retreat
• Living in the Now 5 day retreat
• Weekend Meditation Retreats
• Meditation and Insight Retreat
• Rest and Rejuvenation 5 day retreat
• Cancer Self-Help Program over 12 weeks
• Ongoing Cancer Support Group
Over 15,000 people have attended our Residential programs in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and more than 75,000 people have attended our Non-residential programs conducted by Ian and his team of highly-trained therapists.
These programs are reinforced by a range of resources including counselling, massage, reflexology and its resource centre.
What is the Foundation’s success rate and is there evidence that it works?
In 2005, The Gawler Foundation partnered with the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Swinburne University of Technology to undertake an independent research study to assess the benefits for patients who attended the Foundation’s 10-day Residential program.
The study found that patients who attended the program experienced scientifically measurable, beneficial effects on mood, mental adjustment to cancer, quality of life and salivary cortisol level (the level of stress, measured by saliva samples). The preliminary results of the study were published in the International Journal of Psycho-Oncology. We also know from direct feedback and our own in-house research that thousands of Australians have benefited from adopting the Gawler approach and many participants of our programs have survived what was regarded as terminal or incurable cancer.
Does The Gawler Foundation require the discontinuation of ‘traditional or conventional’ treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy when they attend a program?
No. The Foundation does not advocate that participants stop currently prescribed medication or treatment.
We advocate an integrated medical approach, which is one that embraces what works and is in each individual person’s best interest. The approach brings together many different treatments – conventional, medical treatments and other approaches – that the patient may manage themselves.
We believe every patient needs to be fully informed of the consequences and likely outcomes for various treatment options, so that they can make an informed choice about what treatment options and combinations will suit their own individual circumstances.
The Gawler Foundation timeline
1975: Therapeutic Director, Dr Ian Gawler OAM, developed osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and had his right leg amputated. Later that year, the cancer returned. Ian and his first wife Grace, start to utilise complementary therapies based on meditation, organic vegan diet and loving support.
1978: Ian is cancer-free and his remission is reported in the Medical Journal of Australia.
1981-83: Ian establishes Australia’s first self-help cancer support group. Ian and Grace Gawler runs the early groups privately.
1983: The Australian Cancer Patients Foundation was formed, the first lifestyle-based cancer support service in Australia.
1983: The Foundation becomes a non-profit, non-denominational registered charity.
1995-1999: The Foundation convenes the ‘Mind, Immunity & Health’ Conferences. These are the first conferences in Australia addressing the learning needs of multi-disciplinary health professionals engaged in Integrative Medicine. The conference continues as ‘The Holistic Health Conference’ now convened by The Australasian Integrative Medical Association (AIMA).
2000: A South Australian survey shows that approximately 52% of the Australian population use complementary medicines and that 23% consulted practitioners of complementary medicine. This represents an estimated out-of-pocket spending of $2.3 billion which is a 62% increase since 1993.
2001: Ian initiates lifestyle-based programs for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): in collaboration with Professor George Jelinek, MS survivor and Professor of Emergency Medicine in WA and author of ‘Taking Control of MS’.
2004: The Foundation partners with Monash Medical School, Swinburne University and RMIT University to present the ‘Wellness Conference’ for doctors and health practitioners.
2005: The Foundation makes a submission to the Senate Inquiry into services and treatment options for persons with cancer.
2005: The Gawler Foundation partners with the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Swinburne University of Technology to undertake an independent research study to assess the benefits for patients who attended the Foundation’s 10-day residential program.
The study found that patients who attended the program experienced scientifically measurable, beneficial effects on mood, mental adjustment to cancer, quality of life and salivary cortisol level (the level of stress, measured by saliva samples).
The preliminary results of the study were published in the International Journal of Psycho-Oncology.
2007: The Foundation’s 25th anniversary and Ian celebrates being cancer-free for 30 years.
Today: The Foundation is now a dynamic, thriving and leading life-force in health and healing. Over 15,000 people have attended its Residential programs in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and more than 75,000 people have attended its non-residential programs in meditation and disease prevention conducted by Ian and his team of highly-trained therapists.
These programs are reinforced by a range of resources including counselling, massage, and resource centre.
