Joel Nathan

Joel Nathan is the Founder and CEO of Life Goes On – a not-for-profit organisation that provides the skills and inspiration to help patients and families live with a serious illness.

In addition to a private counselling practice as a psychotherapist since 1987, he was a facilitator in the Palliative Care Unit, La Trobe University, and was a Signatory to the Charter of Paris, World Summit Against Cancer, Paris, February 2000.

He is an active Member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society, Associate Member Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, and past Patient Advisor to National Institute of Clinical Studies’ Program into Pain Management.

Nathan is a survivor of several life-threatening illnesses, including leukemia with two recurrences, lung cancer, renal failure and 5-way coronary by-pass surgery.

He is the author of Time of My Life (Penguin Books, 1992), and What to do when they say, "It’s Cancer" – A Survivor’s Guide (Allen & Unwin, 1998) endorsed by leading medical specialists in Australia and the USA. Both books will be republished in 2008.

Joel Nathan was honored with an Order of Australia Medal in the 2008 Australia Day Awards for establishing the only telephone counselling service dedicated to people facing a serious illness, and for training and educational programs to help doctors and allied health professionals be more effective in dealing with their patients’ and their own emotional and spiritual needs.