About CanTeen

CanTeen's Mission is to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer. This is done by providing - a high quality Australia-wide peer support network of young people living with cancer - who share experiences, have fun, offer resources, and promote understanding, well-being and leadership.

The touchstone of CanTeen is the belief that young people, through meeting and talking with one another, are be better able to cope with the uncertainties of a cancer diagnosis.

CanTeen's Members are young people aged between 12 and 24, who are cancer patients (called Patient Members), brothers or sisters of cancer patients (called Sibling Members) or young people with parents or primary carers with cancer (called Offspring Members).

CanTeen Supports its Members through Division and National Camps, which provide the opportunity for Members to meet others from around the country and establish caring and supportive friendships. CanTeen also runs Patient, Sibling and Offspring Weekends, which cater specifically for these groups, and are designed around the issues that are commonly faced by each group.

CanTeen Develops it's Members through Educational Workshops, which focus on issues that are identified by the Members, such as fertility, side effects, stress management, grieving, bereavement and relationships. CanTeen also holds Discussion Groups, which provide Members with the opportunity to discuss their issues relating to living with cancer in a supportive, peer group setting.

CanTeen Empowers its Members through their Cancer Journey and as a result, they are able take back control of their lives. CanTeen also empowers its Members through participation in management. CanTeen's philosophy is to involve young people in the decision-making process and empower them to take responsibility for their organisation.

To refer a young person to CanTeen, there are some simple steps that need to be taken:

• Fill out the CanTeen referral form, fax or send it to CanTeen Victoria.
• CanTeen will then contact the person making the referral, OR this person may like to contact CanTeen Victoria directly on (03) 9329 5288 and ask to speak to the Member Liaison Officer (MLO) about the young person in question (providing any extra details that will assist CanTeen in providing the type of support the young person may need)
• Once the relevant sections of the form are completed correctly, the form is sent to the CanTeen National Office, where it is processed. When this is completed, an information pack will be sent to the new Member.
• CanTeen Victoria will make contact with the young person.

For more information, please call (03) 9329 5288, visit www.canteen.org.au, or email vic.admin@canteen.org.au.