MONEYME supports Canteen’s mission to help young people impacted by cancer

News & Announcements

Team MONEYME|28 January 2022| 3-minute read

MONEYME are supporting Canteen’s Education and Career Support Service, which helps young people who have been impacted by cancer return to their educational or vocational plans. Almost 50% of young cancer patients do not return to their pre-cancer plans, but we are hoping to help Canteen change that.

Cancer changes everything. For more than 35 years, Canteen has been committed to ensuring that young people and their families get the best possible support to cope with the immense challenges of cancer. Every year, another 23,000 young people aged 12-25 are impacted, whether it’s a close family member’s diagnosis or their own. Canteen’s mission is to be in the corner of every young person when cancer crashes into their world.

Canteen is the only organisation in Australia dedicated to providing free tailored support for young people aged 12-25 who are impacted by cancer. It helps these young people:

• connect with peers in similar situations through programs and recreation days
• understand what cancer means by providing access to free information and resources
• access online and face-to-face counselling
• by providing support programs to young cancer patients returning to study or work following their treatment
• join a 24/7 online support community of peers via Canteen Connect; and
• if they’ve been diagnosed themselves, it provides Youth Cancer Services which are specialised treatment and support services based in major hospitals throughout Australia.

All support services are underpinned by Canteen’s research and evaluation team which conduct world-class psychosocial research with the ultimate goal of transforming the lives of young people affected by cancer.

Canteen’s Impact

• After just six months of support from Canteen, almost two-thirds of young people impacted by cancer report improvements in their mental health and overall wellbeing.
• Over a five-year time horizon, Canteen programs generated $99 million in social value and returned an average of $5.46 for every $1 invested.
• Around 70% of all newly diagnosed young cancer patients are supported by the Youth Cancer Services based in major hospitals around Australia.

Education and Career Support Service

The Education and Career Support Service (ECS) helps young cancer patients aged 15 – 25 return to study or work following their treatment.

ECS is a strength-based, client-focused program delivered 1:1 and in groups – in person, over the phone and via video conference. ​Young people can engage with the program at the point of diagnosis, receiving support through treatment, and continue post-treatment as they transition back into work or study.​

Why ECS Matters

• Around 1,000 young people aged 15-25 are diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia.
• Long term survivors of childhood cancer are 19% less likely to have high school or tertiary qualifications.
• Impact of cognitive impairment, reduced self-esteem, and absenteeism associated with treatment; this can impede young people from joining the workforce, leading to delayed financial independence.
• For young people who are diagnosed, the total lifetime costs were estimated to be $1.4billion, or $1.3million per person.
• Almost 50% of those surveyed by Canteen have still not returned to their pre-cancer educational or vocational plans.
• Education, vocation, and income all have a direct impact on health, and on a young person’s sense of identity.

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