'You Can' About 'You Can' and youth cancer You Can was established by Sony Foundation and CanTeen, in partnership with the federal government, in 2010. It aims to establish specialised youth cancer centres and services around Australia for adolescents and young adults with cancer. Currently, patients aged 1525 are falling through the gaps of our health care system due to a lack of specialised services. A cancer diagnosis for a young person not only means a battle with a life threatening illness but also significant disruption to schooling or employment and added stress as they struggle with social isolation during a time in their life when social relationships are so important to their development. Young people can be overwhelmed by the current approaches to treatment meaning high levels of non-compliance with treatment. Psychosocial support alongside medical care is critical in greatly improving full participation in treatment. The long term effects of having cancer as a young person include much higher likelihood of mental health issues, unemployment and chronic physical health issues. Hence a multidisciplinary approach that responds to mental health and other issues and which ensures reconnection with education and employment post treatment is vitally important in reducing long term impacts of cancer. Young people are more likely to receive much more inconsistent care due to their dispersion across paediatric and adult sites across metropolitan regional and rural Australia. The Sony Foundation recognises the challenges faced by young people receiving treatment for cancer and together with its corporate partners is committed to ongoing fundraising to support the development of further You Can Centres across Australia.
About our You Can Centre Australia's first You Can Centre opened on May 2 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, thanks to a $1.8 million donation from Sony Foundation The new You Can Centre, funded through a partnership of the Sony Foundation, Australian Government, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and CanTeen, was launched by the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Health . It is specifically for young people aged 15 – 25 who have been diagnosed with cancer and are currently falling through the gap in our health care system. The You Can facilities include wonderful group and recreation spaces, counselling spaces, Sony computers and technology as well as a refurbished 4 bed inpatient ward, so that young people can receive treatment and support in youth appropriate spaces. Sony Foundation has provided funding of $1.8 million and the Australian Government, $1.2 million, to bring these facilities to life. Age-specific youth cancer centres aim to improve outcomes for young people receiving treatment for cancer through the collaboration of experts, the development of specialised
treatment and support programs and the opportunity for young people to be amongst peers in a dedicated, encouraging environment away from the clinical environment of the hospital where they undergo grueling treatment regimens.
Leading Edge Computers and You Can Leading Edge Computers have been supporters of the You Can campaign since 2012. A number of stores around Australia offer huge support to You Can through annual donations, the promotion of the phone recycling campaign and awareness-raising about the You Can cause.
About Sony Foundation Sony Foundation is the charity arm of all of the Sony companies in Australia (Sony Music, Sony Australia, Universal Sony Pictures, Sony DADC and Sony Computer Entertainment). Sony Foundation established You Can in 2010, in partnership with CanTeen. Sony Foundation raises the money while CanTeen funds the services, like doctors, nurses etc. Sony Foundation raises money for 'You Can' through large-scale fundraisers and through our phone recycling campaign, whereby ordinary Australians donate their mobile phone and the profits made from recycling them go to 'You Can'.