All you need to know about Personal Development Grants Moemoeā*
Helping tamariki reach for their dreams and envision life beyond their experience of cancer.
A Personal Development Grant (PDG) is a one-off grant of up to $500 that helps children impacted by childhood cancer and their siblings take part in something they love. It could be a music class, sports team, coding course, kapa haka, tutoring or another enriching activity that helps inspire them.
The goal is to encourage tamariki of all abilities envision life beyond cancer and build confidence, explore their passions and simply feel the joy of being a kid.
The programme is available to all children aged 0-12 who are supported by us, including all eligible siblings, who have not received a PDG before. Each child or sibling can receive one grant, for something experiential that will add value and inspiration to their life.
We’ve seen how powerful something as simple as one regular activity can be. As one parent shared with us about their son:
“It’s been so good. One session a week doing STEM really improved his whole school week. It was ‘just right’ for him and something we couldn’t have done without having the PDG.”
It’s a new chapter for a much-loved programme, with the vision to help ensure every eligible child across Aotearoa has a chance to experience the benefits of a Personal Development Grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You might notice that Personal Development Grants look a little different in this relaunch, if you’ve received one before.
From 16 June 2025, the programme was officially refreshed with some eligibility changes in effect.
Over the past year, we’ve taken time to reflect, review, listen and reimagine what the Personal Development Grants programme could be. This was a thoughtful, independent process that took an incredible amount of feedback into account. We approached the review process with deep respect for what the PDG programme has offered in its long history, and a desire to make sure it can continue to positively impact as many children as possible, for many years to come.
The new eligibility criteria allow us to provide personal development grants to more children, so tamariki who haven’t yet had a chance to receive a PDG can benefit from the joy, confidence and growth a grant can bring.
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Personal Development Grants are available for children and their siblings, aged 0–12, who are supported by Child Cancer Foundation and have not yet received a PDG. This includes:
- A child who has or has had cancer, whether they are on treatment or off, and
- Their eligible siblings, including bereaved siblings
Each child or sibling can receive one grant. And the grant applies to an experiential activity. If a child has received a PDG under the previous model, they are not eligible to receive another under the refreshed programme.
Personal Development Grants are designed to support all families. If yours meets the criteria, we warmly encourage you to apply. This opportunity could be a great fit for you!
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If your child turned 13 between 1 January 2024 and 16 June 2025, and they would otherwise meet the updated criteria, please contact Shannyn our Family Support Manager at shansen@childcancer.org.nz to talk about applying.
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The grants are for experience-based activities — things that children can take part in and enjoy regularly. We’ve kept the scope intentionally wide so children can choose something that truly lights them up.
Some examples include:
- Sports and recreation – like swimming, tennis, gymnastics or martial arts
- Cultural experiences – such as kapa haka, te reo Māori lessons, outdoor education or camps
- Educational support – tutoring, coding lessons, STEM programmes
- Creative pursuits – music lessons, performing arts, dance or visual art classes
Grants are not available for material items, but if special equipment is required to participate (e.g. a pair of dance shoes or uniform), up to 10% of the grant may be used to help cover that cost. You can indicate this when you apply via our online form.
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Applications are made online and reviewed quarterly. The closing dates are:
- 31 January
- 30 April
- 31 July
- 31 October
After each application round closes, our administrative team reviews all submissions to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and that the activity is suitable for the child.
We recognise that there may be some health vulnerability as children recover from treatment. To ensure the health and safety of these applicants, we might require some clinical guidance from relevant health professionals to make sure the activity is safe and appropriate based on their health needs. You will see this in the application form before you submit it, along with a link to our privacy policy.
Applications then go to our PDG committee, which is made of three of our Child Cancer Foundation Board members who each have personal experience with childhood cancer and are deeply connected to our work, to prepare applications for final sign-off by our Child Cancer Foundation Board.
Families will hear back from us by the end of the month following the closing date (e.g. February for January applications) with the outcome.
Once approved, we’ll get in touch with you and the activity provider and organise for the grant to be paid directly to them. For activities that run in accordance with School Terms, the grant will be paid in time for your child to start their activity in the following school term.
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You’ll see the word Moemoeā alongside the Personal Development Grant name. It’s a te reo Māori word meaning “to dream” or “to envision fulfilling your aspirations.”
This name was gifted to us by a Māori language teacher and cultural advisor, and we felt it beautifully reflected the heart of the programme! Personal Development Grants are about helping tamariki imagine what’s possible and supporting them to envision and experience wonderful things outside their journey with cancer.
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You’re always welcome to reach out. Please email Shannyn, our Family Support Manager, at shansen@childcancer.org.nz and she’ll be happy to help guide you through the process or chat further.