AYA group programs

Look Good, Feel Better is a community program designed to help people manage the appearance-related side effects from cancer treatment. In this fun and interactive workshop, you'll receive a goodie bag filled with skin care and makeup products and learn practical tips on how to use them at home.

We work with LGFB to offer AYA-specific workshops, making it an easy, relaxed space to meet new people. You'll leave with fresh skills, new connections, and of course, your goodie bag full of self-care items. 

Held in the Youth Cancer Centre on Level 1 of Peter Mac's Melbourne (Parkville) campus, these workshops run periodically throughout the year- contact us for details of upcoming offerings. 

This partnership program is designed to assist young people who are re-entering the workforce or wanting to explore new career opportunities. Utilising MARS Recruitment's industry leads, the program connects participants with industry experts for personalised guidance, career advice and potential job opportunities.

There are several components:

• Group workshop (open to all AYA patients): an initial 1-hour workshop to provide advice on building a LinkedIn profile, job searching techniques and how to address resume gaps / disclose diagnosis. Run in the Youth Cancer Centre on Level 1 of Peter Mac's Melbourne (Parkville) campus. 
  
  
• 1:1 sessions (open to all AYA patients): participants requiring additional support can follow-up the group workshop with a 1:1 consultation with a MARS Recruitment consultant to provide individualised advice.
  
  
• Career Connection Program (open to young people aged 18-30 who are post-treatment or nearing completion and are ready to enter / re-enter the workforce): Eligible participants can be referred to the Career Connection Program to establish their employment/career goals. They will then be connected to an organisation that best aligns with their goals for advice, guidance and possible employment opportunities.

*UPskill is on hiatus for 2025

The UPskill Vocational Training Program includes skills-based, psycho-educational workshops addressing three broad topics:

• Goal setting and career pathway development
• Strategies to optimise study and work performance
• Essential skills for education and employment

The program runs once a week over four weeks. Workshops are led by Victorian AYA Cancer Service staff and community partners. 

ReGenerate is an eight-week exercise and self-guided education program aiming to improve physical health and wellbeing following cancer treatment.

The program consists of exercise sessions twice a week supervised by an exercise physiologist. Participants also receive online educational content and materials to review in their own time. Topics covered include:

• Diet and nutrition
• Emotional health and wellbeing
• Return to school, study and work
• Late effects and getting the most out of your relationship with your GP (General Practitioner)

ReGenerate is delivered on-site at Peter Mac’s Melbourne (Parkville) campus.

Art sessions (weekly)

Held on Tuesdays from 11:00am - 1:00pm, these sessions are for young people with cancer to meet and engage with other young people in a self-led, creative, low-pressure environment. You can join the art drop-ins at any point through the year in the Youth Cancer Centre on Level 1 of Peter Mac’s Melbourne (Parkville) campus.

Open gym (weekly)

Held on Thursdays from 10:00am - 12:00pm, these sessions provide drop-in opportunities for young people to complete their personalised exercise programs, or just exercise alongside other young people in a safe and supported environment. Sessions are supervised by the AYA Exercise Physiologist and held in the gym on Level 2 of Peter Mac's Melbourne (Parkville) campus.