CanTeen

CanTeen is the Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer. Canteens mission is to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer. We do this by providing an Australia-wide peer support network for 12-24 year-olds including*:

• Patients - young people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
• Siblings & Offspring - young people who have an immediate family member (brother or sister, parent or primary carer) who has been diagnosed with cancer, and
• Bereaved Siblings & Offspring - young people who had an immediate family member who died from cancer.

Young people who don’t quite fit these descriptions might still be able to join – contact us for more information.

We provide Members with a place where they can simply be young people – away from the adult-dominated environment of cancer hospitals and treatment regimes.
Through a wide range of camps and programs, CanTeen encourages Members to share experiences and resources, promote understanding, well-being and leadership… and have fun!

In the words of our Members, the most effective form of support is from other young people in a similar situation who have “been there, done that”.

CanTeen offers its Members a comprehensive range of peer support programs, from week-long camps to shorter more focused programs – all held in fantastic venues around the country - including:

• General Programs - such as weekend camps and week-long programs, which provide Members with relief from the pressures associated with living with cancer.
• Focused Programs - like Good Grief which addresses issues surrounding grief and loss, and Healthy Living which is designed to educate Members in strategies for stress relief and improved quality of life.
• Recreation Days – more casual get-togethers providing Members with a chance to connect through activities such as bowling, go-carting or just going to the movies.

On all of our programs young people can let their hair down (or don a CanTeen bandanna!) and have some fun. All programs are designed to encourage Members to share their stories, develop new skills and support each other.

CanTeen supports young people throughout Australia from nine offices. For more information, visit

www.canteen.org.au

Supporting, developing and empowering young people living with cancer