Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in Australian women, so a diagnosis and having to go through treatment is heart breaking, no matter what age.

TAFE NSW Macquarie Fields fashion students, in partnership with Zonta Club of Macarthur, are helping to ease pain by providing Breast cushions to women undergoing treatment in hospitals across NSW.

Meticulously made by the Certificate III Applied Fashion Design and Technology students the Club provides the funding for the materials allowing students to spend a couple of days making the cushions.

TAFE NSW Macquarie Fields, Teacher for Fashion, Rosaria Bugge, said, “We’re very proud to be part of such an important project for the Zonta Club of Macarthur. Having to deal with cancer treatment is never easy and our students enjoy being able to create beautiful cushions that are distributed to breast care nurses across NSW.”

“The project plays an important part of their course work, as it is an opportunity for the students to work to a brief for a client, gain some great experience not only in sewing, but also production and team work.”

This year, TAFE NSW Macquarie Fields fashion students created 84 cushions, which will be distributed by breast care nurses in Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital (private and public) and Calvary Hospital in Wagga Wagga.

The Zonta Breast Care Cushion was the brainchild Ann Selle OAM, a member of the Zonta Club of Botany Bay.    In 2003 Ann set up the project of producing Breast Cushions as a Zonta District 24 project.  Since then, thousands of women in NSW and around Australia have benefited from this project[1].

Designed to help relieve discomfort from surgery or radiation treatment, the cushions are made of high quality satin, as the material is soft and cooling against the skin. The Zonta Breast Care Cushion aids recovery by allowing the woman to sit, sleep and rest comfortably, as well as by preventing any hurt from bumps while walking around and any discomfort from wearing seat belts.

Zonta Club of Macarthur has been working with TAFE NSW Macquarie Fields for over 16 years on the project and has helped make breast cancer treatment for women a little easier through the donated cushions.

The Coordinator of the Zonta Breast Cushion Project, June Tayler said, “We have had a long association with TAFE NSW Macquarie Fields and its wonderful fashion teachers. The help the students provide by making the cushions is really appreciated by the club as well as the breast care nurses and the women undergoing treatment.”

“We love seeing the final product and the smiles on the faces of the students who do such a wonderful job every year.”

Zonta International is an organisation of over 29,000 business and professional women worldwide with the primary purpose of advancing the status of women. Through service and advocacy, Zonta International aims to improve the health, educational, professional, legal, economic and political status of women and girls.

To learn more about studying fashion at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Media contact: Teresa Lane, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner 9796 5476, mobile 0412 773 887