Become A Youth Leader

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Step Up, Lead & Make a Difference!

At Canteen, Youth Leadership is at the heart of everything we do. Youth Leaders are valued for their skills, lived experience, passion, and their instrumental role in the achievement of our mission. 

Through Youth Leadership we provide meaningful opportunities for young people living with cancer to contribute to Canteen according to their interest, experience and skill. 

We believe in the power of young people to shape the future, and that’s why we’re excited to bring together the next generation of Leaders for our 2025 Local Leadership Teams!

These teams will be made up of awesome young people who have demonstrated leadership skills and want to take them to the next level. There are 5 supercharged teams representing Canteen across Australia, each with its own region: 

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a map outlining where the youth leaders at canteen are from

What does a Local Leader do? 

Click through for more information on each role and responsibility. 

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Advising
Description

You’ll get to share your ideas, experiences, and feedback to help improve Canteen’s services and research. This could be through team meetings (face-to-face or Zoom) or other fun opportunities like surveys and events. 

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Advocating
Description

Speak up about the things that matter most to you and your peers. Your voice can influence decisions and help raise awareness about the issues that affect young people facing cancer. You'll also help spread the word about Canteen’s programs in your local community and on Canteen Connect. 

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Peer support
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It’s all about building connections! You’ll help create a supportive environment for others by developing meaningful relationships with other young people - both in person and online. 

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Empowerment
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Leadership allows you to work on your strengths both individually and as part of a team, in many different areas, including training opportunities and programs to build your confidence and skills.  

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Community building
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Help organise awesome events and initiatives that will support even more young people! You’ll also help Canteen build stronger connections with other groups and communities. 

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Leadership code & checks
Description

All leaders will need to sign a Code of Conduct and do a Criminal History check as part of their application.  

If you’re over 18, you’ll also need to complete a Working with Children Check, but don’t worry - Canteen will help you with this and cover any costs. 

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Foundations of Leadership
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Leadership is all about growing, and with Canteen’s Foundations of Leadership program, you’ll learn new skills throughout the year.  

Delivered through an online system called Teachable, this program covers everything from communication and public speaking to collaboration and identity.  

It’s a mix of self-learning and group discussions, with bi-monthly online meetings where you can connect with other first-year leaders. 

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Local Leadership meetings
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This is where the magic happens!  

Local Leadership Teams meet at least six times a year, in person or via Zoom, to plan and execute projects that help raise awareness, provide peer support, and make a real difference for young people affected by cancer.  

It’s your chance to use your skills and ideas to create a positive impact!  

Canteen Leader FAQs

How much time do I need to commit? 

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. 

What if I live Regionally? 

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. If you’re unsure about what would work best for your circumstances, please contact your Local Leadership Coordinator.

 

Local Leader Position Description

Want to learn more about becoming a Local Leader? Read the position description here

 

Want to be part of this incredible journey in 2025? Apply now  

To apply for your Local Leadership Team in 2025, please complete the form below. You can answer the application questions either by writing or as a video upload!.  

If you have more questions about Local Leadership or the application process, you can find the email address for your Local Leadership Coordinator below. 

 

 

*Donotes mandatory field

 

OR make a video submission and upload the file via this link.

Your Local Leadership Team will be hosting an Info Session early in 2025, so stay tuned for more details or contact your Local Leadership Coordinator for more information.

 

Team Work Makes the Dream Work! 

We have a fantastic team on board for Leadership, made up of Local Coordinators and National Staff. If you have any questions about anything in this Information Pack or are ready to commit to Local Leadership, 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.

 

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Col 1

NSW/ACT 

Program Coordinator: Jerico Navea  

Contact: [email protected]

 

Col 2

VIC/TAS 

Program Coordinator: Darcy Ayres  

Contact: [email protected]

 

Col 1

WA  

Program Coordinator: Ireland Grater  

Contact: [email protected]

 

Col 2

SA/NT 

Program Coordinator: Lex Branescu 

Contact: [email protected]

 

Col 1

QLD 

Program Coordinator: Chenaya Te Wheoro  

Contact: [email protected]

Col 2

National 

Youth Leadership Manager: Leanne Davis  

Contact: [email protected]