Dr Clarissa Schilstra

Dr Clarissa Schilstra is currently an early-career research fellow in the Behavioural Sciences Unit, a paediatric psycho-oncology research group based in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of NSW and the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Dr Schilstra is passionate about research focused on protecting and promoting the psychosocial well-being of children and young people affected by cancer and their families. She is currently leading international research with the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, exploring the lived experience of people affected by cancer.

Dr Schilstra’s own lived experience as a two-time cancer survivor (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, treated at ages 2-5 and 13-16) informs her research and is a core driver of her advocacy efforts. These include serving as a consumer advisor for the International Late Effects from Childhood Cancer Guidelines Harmonization Group and chairing the Kids Cancer Centre Family Advisory Committee at Sydney Children’s Hospital.