Canteen is dedicated to supporting young Australians aged 12 to 25 who are impacted by cancer, whether they’re facing their own diagnosis, caring for a family member, or coping with loss. By providing free counselling, peer support, education, and advocacy, Canteen ensures that young people have the guidance, connection, and resilience they need to navigate these challenging experiences.
Your support helps Canteen reach more young people across Australia, offering services that are tailored to their needs and delivered free of charge.
Canteen offers professional, free and confidential counselling for young people affected by cancer. Sessions are available face-to-face, online, or over the phone, allowing young people to receive help wherever they are. Counselling focuses on coping strategies, mental health support, and managing the emotional challenges that come with cancer.
This support is crucial in helping young people build resilience, reduce isolation, and improve their overall well-being.
Peer connection is at the heart of Canteen’s approach. Programs, therapeutic workshops, and events bring young people together to share experiences, build friendships, and find comfort in a community that understands what they’re going through.
By participating in peer programs, young people gain confidence, learn new skills, and feel less alone in facing the challenges of cancer.
Every single day, around 63 young Australians have their lives disrupted by cancer — either through their own diagnosis or that of a close family member. That adds up to more than 23,000 young people each year facing emotional, social, and practical challenges that can derail their education and career goals. In fact, Canteen’s research shows that fewer than half feel confident about achieving their education aspirations, and less than a third feel hopeful about future employment. With your support, we’re working to change that.
Canteen’s education and career support services help young people get back on track, providing guidance on study, career planning, and life skills.
This support ensures young people maintain opportunities for learning and growth, even while navigating the challenges of cancer.
Through youth leadership, Canteen aims to provide young Australians impacted by cancer with opportunities to develop the skills, resilience, and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the world around them and be represented in decisions that affect their lives.
Canteen is also committed to ensuring its programs are effective and evidence-based, helping to improve outcomes for young people across the country.
Canteen Connect is an online community platform that allows young people to connect with peers and access counselling and resources safely and confidentially. This digital platform extends the reach of Canteen’s support to young people in regional and remote areas, ensuring no one misses out due to location.
Canteen is the only Australian organisation supporting all young people impacted by cancer, whether it’s their own diagnosis, a close family member’s cancer or the death of a loved one.
Canteen offers free counselling, peer events and programs, education and career support, youth leadership initiatives, advocacy, and online resources through Canteen Connect.
Through Canteen Connect, digital counselling, and outreach programs, Canteen provides accessible support to young people across Australia, including those in regional and remote communities.
Yes. All counselling, peer programs, events, and online support services provided by Canteen are completely free for young people and their families.
Donations help provide specialised counselling, run peer events and programs, and provide career and education advice, helping Canteen reach more young Australians and provide the support they need to thrive.
