About Canteen’s Youth Leadership Program
Canteen has always had a proud history of youth leadership that informs how we run our programs and services. The Local Leadership Teams in 2023 will be made up of young people who have shown leadership potential in their time at Canteen and who have expressed a desire to further develop their leadership skills.
There are 8 Local Leadership Teams across Australia in total: 7 state-based teams that represent Canteen in every region, as well as our Canteen Connect Team that represents our online services, country-wide. The local state-based teams are Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland, SA/NT, ACT/Southern NSW, and Central/Northern NSW.
The core duties of the local leadership team are:
Advise
Share ideas, experience and feedback to shape Canteen’s services and research
- Participate in Local Leadership Team meetings (face to face and/or Zoom) and other opportunities (such as surveys or events) to share ideas and feedback based on personal lived experience of cancer, Canteen Connect, and other Canteen’s services
Advocacy
Speak up about issues that affect you and your peers to influence decision makers
- Promote Canteen’s services within local community and on Canteen Connect
Peer-support
Build relationships that facilitate resilience, connection, and wellbeing
- Develop mutually supportive relationships with peers, on Canteen Connect and in person
Community
Develop networks, initiatives and events that resource Canteen to support more young people
- Identify community relationships and networks to explore partnership opportunities, alongside staff
All leaders are required to sign and agree to a Code of Conduct and undergo a Criminal History check as part of their application. Leaders aged 18+ will also be required to complete a Working with Children Check. Canteen will facilitate this paperwork and reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses.
Foundations of Leadership
Foundations of Leadership is a Leadership Development Program that forms the core learning component of the program over the course of the year. This training program is delivered through an online learning system called Teachable. This training program has been designed and created by Canteen staff to train and develop local leadership teams in areas such as identity, communication, public speaking, collaboration etc. Foundations of Leadership will be a mixture of self-directed learning and a contribution to online group discussions.
Local Leadership Meetings
Leadership meetings are the primary place of connection, accountability, and group activity for each team. Local groups will meet at least 6 times throughout the year via zoom and/or in person.
Leaders get to put their skills and learnings into action as they are guided through an experience of planning and executing a group project. Leadership Projects are all about the collective deciding to take action to make things better for other young people living with cancer.
This is where leaders can make a big impact and meaningfully contribute to the work of Canteen, in line with their role as leaders to raise awareness and support, provide peer support and share their ideas, feedback and experience to inform Canteen’s work.
Canteen Connect Leadership Team
The Canteen Connect Leadership Team includes leaders from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand who connect via Zoom meetings.
We’d love to hear from young leaders who are current users of Connect and want to support the continued growth of the online space for young people living with cancer themselves or in their family.
Australian Leaders:
You must choose either a State based leadership team (e.g. NSW) OR the Connect Leadership team in your application (i.e. not both).
Aotearoa New Zealand Leaders:
You must apply to be primarily based in a Hub Leadership Team. In addition to your Hub projects, you can also nominate (in your application) to be involved in the Connect projects across 2022.
Interested in self-nominating for a leadership role?
To register your interest in becoming a leader in 2023, please read this Info Pack in full and choose one of the two Leadership Information Sessions that best suits you.
Whether you’re interested in joining your local state team and/or the Canteen Connect Leadership team, you are required to attend one of the Leadership Information Sessions below:
Leadership Information Session Option A
Date: Thursday 9th February 2023
Time: NSW/VIC/ACT/TAS: 7pm / WA: 4pm / QLD: 6pm / SA: 6.30pm / NT: 5.30pm / NZ: 9pm
Location: Zoom
Duration: 90 mins
OR
Leadership Information Session Option B
Date: Saturday, 11th February 2023
Time: NSW/VIC/ACT/TAS: 1pm / WA: 10am / QLD: 12pm / SA: 12.30pm / NT: 11.30am / NZ: 3pm
Location: Zoom
Duration: 90 mins
Next steps: register for an Information Session!
Attendance at a Leadership Information Session is a requirement if you wish to apply for a leadership role. Please RSVP to your preferred information session using the links in the email you were sent. RSVPs are due by 27 January.
What to expect after you RSVP
- You will receive an email with the zoom link for your chosen Info Session Option.
- Once you have attended the Information Session, you will be sent the Leadership Application Pack. These documents will need to be returned by Friday 24th February.
- Applicants will be contacted individually by their Local Leadership Coordinator to discuss leadership pathway and the best outcomes & needs for each young person (see flow chart on next page).
If you have any questions, please see the FAQs section of this Info Pack, or speak to your Local Leadership Coordinator (see last page for contact details).
Leader Role Description
Leader
Purpose:
To provide dynamic leadership by supporting the health and wellbeing of other young people living with cancer (YPLWC) and by sharing enthusiasm, ideas, and feedback on the work of Canteen.
Selection:
Any participant of Canteen, or previous participant within the age-range, has the right to sign up as a leader, to participate in training and forums to have their voice heard in the decisions which affect them, other YPLWC, and the future of Canteen. Sign-up occurs at the start of each calendar year.
Role Commitment:
All leaders are to work in collaboration with staff and perform their role in a way that is consistent with Canteen’s values, policies, and procedures. Leaders are expected to attend all leadership meetings, forums, and events, and contribute to project groups or other leadership opportunities. If they are unable to attend or participate in these, they must send apologies to the Chair and staff coordinator. Each year, leaders sign up for a 12-month commitment. If a leader is unable to make any part of this commitment, they must inform their lead staff as soon as possible.
Wellbeing & Support:
The wellbeing of a young person comes first. Canteen acknowledges the significant responsibilities associated with being a leader. For this reason, a young person must meet with their lead staff annually, to discuss their wellbeing, the responsibilities of the role and what supports may be required to enable them to take on the role safely, successfully and with enjoyment. A leader may be asked to step-down from the role if there is a risk to safety or a breach of policy.
Expectations:
- Role model Canteen values, adherence to policies and rules, and inclusive, supportive behaviour
- Attend all leadership meetings and events, and contribute to project groups or other leadership opportunities
- Participate in opportunities to share ideas and feedback on Canteen activities
- Listen and learn from other Young People Living with Cancer (YPLWC)
- Share the perspectives of others as well as personal opinions with the leadership group and staff
- Consider the perspectives of other YPLWC when making a decision or voting
- Contribute to Canteen’s media and advocacy campaigns and events when requested and supported by staff
- Actively participate in opportunities to fundraise by seeking financial support and/or cost savings for Canteen
- Identify and connect people who could support Canteen (professionals, YPLWC and their families, potential donors, and supporters)
- Build mutually supportive and empowering relationships with other YPLWC
- Engage in group discussions respectfully and proactively both online and in person
- Contribute to Canteen online, on Canteen Connect
- Complete Foundation of Leadership modules via online self-paced learning and group activities
Skills Needed (Leaders may come with, or need support to develop these):
- Contribute to discussions appropriately, and share ideas, feedback, and experiences constructively
- Confidently engage with YPLWC to understand diverse ideas and perspectives in discussions and decisions
- Confidently and appropriately communicate with a range of audiences
- Identify and build connections to increase support and reach of Canteen in the community
- Prioritise time, tasks, and relationships in order to fulfil commitments
- Able to work well independently and in a group and as a reliable part of a team
- Demonstrate personal awareness and a willingness to participate in learning and development opportunities and engage in self-care
Every young person living with cancer who participates in any of Canteen’s services (including online, therapeutic, program, and hospital-based services) has the right to nominate themselves for leadership opportunities within Canteen. Leaders can get involved based on where their interests and skills lie, whether that is through advising, advocacy, peer support or fundraising and attend regular leadership meetings with their team. We will discuss the various roles at the Leadership Information Session, as each role has a position description that details the expectations of, and capabilities required of the role.
Leadership at Canteen requires a lot of time and energy. There is ongoing communication between the staff and the leadership teams as well as regular meetings/trainings/events that are scheduled and need to be attended. Most leaders would spend at least 1 hour per week engaging with their project group and/or in self-paced learning, communicating with their Local Leadership Coordinator and Leadership Team, and other leadership activities.
In order to be a Canteen Leader, you are required to attend all meetings, trainings, and programs in order to fulfil the requirements of the role. If you can’t commit to this then you may need to reconsider whether leadership is the right fit for you. It is important that you are well supported in your role and Canteen takes this very seriously.
Anyone is able to show an interest in participating in Canteen leadership, however if you are unable to fulfil the requirements of the role for whatever reason, staff may talk to you about whether or not leadership is the right fit for you. If this is the case, a young person may decide to focus on their own wellbeing or other commitments instead until they feel they are ready to take on a leadership role at a later date.
You will complete Foundations of Leadership over the course of your first year. This is the formal training component that will allow you to develop your leadership skills during the rest of the program. The skills you will learn are transferable to your personal, school/uni and work life. In Foundations of Leadership, you will cover areas such as personal leadership, communication, public speaking, collaboration etc. Leaders who return for a second year may choose to develop their skills further and can explore Canteen’s additional youth leadership training programs e.g., peer facilitator or youth ambassador trainings.
Regional members are still encouraged to apply. You will be able to Zoom into meetings. We will take your individual situation into account to ensure you can participate in as many leadership activities as possible. Alternatively, you may like to consider the Canteen Connect leadership team instead, who meet via Zoom only. If you’re unsure about what would work best for your circumstances, please contact your Local Leadership Coordinator.
Local Leadership Coordinators
If you have any questions about anything in this Information Pack, please reach out to your Local Leadership Coordinator. Here is a list of the Local Leadership Coordinators for each leadership team and the National contact for Foundations of Leadership.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader”
- John Quincy Adams