Give young people facing cancer the support they deserve
Cancer turns young lives upside down - isolating them and leaving many to cope alone. But your kindness can change that story.
When you donate to Canteen, you’re not just giving money, you’re giving someone like Olivia a safe space to talk, to heal, and to find their way forward.
Your compassion helps provide vital counselling and programs that teach coping skills, build confidence, and create opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and give back.
Your support is life-changing
Thanks to our generous supporters like you, in the last year we've been able to provide life-changing support to young people like Olivia.
Canteen has grown from a small support group of six young cancer patients in to a nationwide organisation providing free, tailored support to thousands of young people.
We help young Aussies and their families navigate the challenges of cancer when their world has been turned upside down - but none of it would be possible without your support.
9 in 10
Young people supported by Canteen feel less distressed and isolated.
99%
Young people supported by Canteen would recommend us to a friend dealing with cancer.
Help that makes a real difference
When cancer crashes into a young person’s world, the emotional toll can be devastating - loneliness, anxiety, and uncertainty take over. It affects their mental health, relationships, and sense of normalcy.
That’s where Canteen steps in.
Through free, professional counselling - online or in-person, young people find a safe space to talk, heal, and feel understood.
But support doesn’t stop there. Canteen’s programs help them connect with peers who truly get it. These programs provide a break from the stress of everyday life, helping them build friendships, learn coping strategies, and even have a bit of fun.
Your donation today helps make this possible for young people like Olivia.
At 14, Olivia faced the unimaginable: losing her mum
Olivia was just 11 years old when her world changed - her mum was diagnosed with cancer. Then at 14, Olivia mum sadly passed away. The grief was overwhelming, and the loneliness that followed made every day feel heavier, especially during Christmas - a time which her mum had always made magical. The absence of her mum left a void that was especially painful during the holidays
During her mum's diagnosis, Olivia made enormous sacrifices, including travelling hours to the nearest treatment center so her mum could access life-prolonging treatment. Through it all, she stayed strong.
It was Olivia’s mum who encouraged her to reach out to Canteen. That one brave step opened the door to a community where Olivia could process her grief, find support, and rediscover the joy of Christmas.
By making a donation to Canteen, you can help young people like Olivia feel connected and supported when cancer crashes into their world. Your generosity ensures they don’t face it alone.
Support Canteen and change lives this Christmas
Your support means Canteen can ensure no young person feels alone this Christmas.
Frequently asked questions
Canteen prevents long-term societal impacts of cancer by addressing issues like isolation and untreated trauma. We believe that every young person deserves access to life-changing cancer support. With your help, Canteen can improve our services, expand them, and reach more young people than ever before. Young people can discover treatments, support, and new experiences on the flipside of the hard ones, and find life in the face of cancer.
Cancer affects everyone differently, which means your donations support a range of tailored programs and services to suit different cancer experiences. By making a donation to Canteen today, you are ensuring young people’s specific needs are being met, whether this is providing practical and emotional support to them explore their feelings about cancer, providing connection with other young people or - if they’ve been diagnosed themselves - by providing youth-specific treatment teams. Canteen prevents long-term societal impacts by addressing issues like isolation and untreated trauma by fostering a sense of community, leadership, and personal growth, helping them shape their futures in the face of adversity. Read more about the wide range of free support services Canteen offers.
Yes! Donations of $2 or more are considered tax deductible donations because Canteen Australia is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR). There is no limit to how much you can claim, however, there is a limit to how much of a donation you can claim in a financial year. Tax-deductible donations must be ‘genuine’, meaning that you cannot receive any benefit from the donation. For more information about tax deductible donations, click here.
Yes! Monthly giving is the best way to help us ensure no young Australian has to face cancer alone as this provides a predictable and stable income stream, allowing us to effectively plan ahead. Each day our support services reach thousands of young Aussies like Georgia, and that’s only possible because of the continuous support of caring people like you. Simply navigate to the donation page on our website and select ‘give monthly’ on the form.
Just as individuals can claim donations as a tax deduction, businesses can claim gifts to charity as well – as long as it is a cash donation and the charity is a deductible gift recipient (which Canteen is). For information on partnering with Canteen as an organisation, please click here.
There are so many ways to get involved with Canteen and help young people overcome the immense challenges of cancer. However you choose to support, you will be providing life-changing support to young Aussies impacted by cancer. Here’s a few ideas to get started:
- Fundraise in whatever way you can or get involved in selling Canteen bandannas in your community.
- Partner with us as an organisation, as a philanthropist, by leaving a gift in your Will, or by donating your time.
If you’d prefer to donate over the phone or would like more information, our Supporter Care Team is ready to help. Based in Sydney, they’re available 9am-5pm AEST Monday to Friday on 1800 639 614 or [email protected]