Professional Development
The AYA Cancer Network aims to support health professionals and other support providers working with young people with cancer. In this section you will find information on education and professional development opportunities available to you. If you know of any other opportunities please send details of these to ayacancer@adhb.govt.nz
Click on the below headings for more:
The AYA Cancer Network Aotearoa, in partnership with the Kidz First Centre for Youth Health have developed a series of e-learning modules suitable for all health professionals who work with young people.
Psychosocial Assessment (23:06)
Adolescent Development (18:48)
Consent, Privacy & Confidentiality (9:07)
If you have any great ideas for more e-learning modules, please let us know at ayacancer@adhb.govt.nz
The AYA Cancer Network is excited to be hosting a range of experts in our new webinar series. Topics will be across the spectrum of oncology and available and relevant for health care professionals from primary and community health right through to tertiary settings.
The kaupapa behind the webinar series is to celebrate the mahi being done across the country in the world of AYA, to bring together health care professionals across the Oncology spectrum and afar, and to learn from each other with an aim of strengthening the services that AYA patients and their whānau will encounter.
Adolescents and young adults (12-24 years) with cancer have unique physical, psychological, and developmental needs that differ from those of children or adults. Health professionals need specialized skills to provide optimal care for this group. The University of Auckland offers a flexible postgraduate program in Youth Health to help professionals develop expertise in this area.
The program includes two key courses:
- PAEDS 712 – Youth Clinical Skills (15 points): Focuses on core skills for working with young people in healthcare, including clinical interviewing, assessment, and intervention.
- PAEDS 721 – Clinical Care of Adolescent and Young Adults (15 points): Builds on PAEDS 712, offering advanced knowledge on AYA cancer care, covering transitional care, survivorship, treatment, consent, and adherence strategies.
These courses can be taken as part of a postgraduate diploma or as a certificate of proficiency. Note that PAEDS 712 is a prerequisite for PAEDS 721. For more details, visit the University of Auckland Youth Health Program or contact Dr. Louise Albertella at Louise.Albertella@middlemore.co.nz.
Kidz First The Centre for Youth Health, Youth Health Workshops for 2025
The Youth Health Workshops provide practical programs to enhance professional skills when working with young people in clinical and community settings.
Click here for 2025 Health Workshops
Click here for more information
Whāraurau
Whāraurau provides national training and workforce development within the child and adolescent mental health sector. They provide online training and study days as well as comprehensive elearning modules for clinicians.
Click here for more information
Free online courses available to professionals and support providers working with young people with cancer.
Whāraurau
Whāraurau provides national training and workforce development within the child and adolescent mental health sector. They provide online training and study days as well as comprehensive elearning modules for clinicians.
Two recommended elearning modules for clinical providers in AYA care include ‘foundations in Youth Health’ and ‘HEEADSSS assessments’ modules. Both modules provide a comprehensive over view of the skills, knowledge and competencies required to deliver effective youth health.
The short courses provides an introduction to the HEEADSSS assessment framework and other key information to support professionals working with young people.
Click here for the HEEADSSS eLearning Module
Click here for the Foundation in Youth Mental Health eLearning Module
The Collaborative Trust for Research and Training in Youth Health & Development – Training
The Collaborative Trust provides training through their workshops which can range from an hour to a whole day. They are interactive and involve young people as Youth Tutors. The topics are relevant to practice and the issues that young people have.
Click here for more information
KnowPYD
KnowPYD aims to connect people who work with rangatahi in Aotearoa to online training opportunities. Online webinars and training’s focus on positive youth development strategies. See the link for further information:
Whatever your commute is into work, AYA podcasts can be a great way to fill this time. The following podcast are based on either AYA professional development or from the voice of AYA patients. Podcast are available on multiple platforms from spotify, the app store or google play.
GoodFellow Podcasts
- Having conversations with AYA about Sex: Cathy Stephenson discusses how to have conversations with our younger patients about sex. Topics include information on safe sexual practices, sexually transmitted infections in teens, sexuality and gender identity and much more.
- AYA Brain Development: Dame Sue Bagshaw discusses teenage brain development and its influences – what this means for clinicians – and how to optimise your communication to maximise your consult with the teenage patient.
The Stupid Cancer Show
An award-winning talk radio show serving as the voice of young adult cancer. Hosted by an AYA survivor, each episode tackles hard-hitting, real-world issues ranging from politics, health care, legislative advocacy, civil liberties, and the environment to social media, entertainment, cancer research, and medical education. Stupid Cancer’s mission is to empower everyone affected by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer by ending isolation and building community by providing age-appropriate resources to help AYA’s navigate treatment and survivorship.
For more information click here
Project Oncology
Project Oncology presents a wide array of oncology topics designed to educate and enlighten practitioners on late-breaking discoveries, novel treatment options, evolving methods of patient management, and more. This series provides cutting-edge updates on cancer biology, diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management, as well as evidence-based recommendations to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Journal of Clinical Oncology Podcasts
This podcast features discussions of new and noteworthy results published in ASCO’s Journal of Clinical Oncology and how they impact clinical practice and research.
University of Melbourne, Australia – Postgraduate studies (non-clinical) in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
These studies are available at Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters level through the Centre for Adolescent Health and the University of Melbourne. The courses are online, multi-disciplinary, designed for busy professionals, and you can study from anywhere in the world.
There is an online course information session: Monday 12 May 2025, 5.30-6.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. In this webinar, we will hear from (me) Dr Ani Wierenga (Academic Coordinator), Kristina Bennett (Masters Coordinator – Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing), as well as current students or alumni. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A with our panellists. If you would like to attend the session, you can follow this link and Register now
See the attached postcard about the course, which will have an intake in July 2025 and another this summer for 2026.
For more information, contact:
Dr Ani Wierenga
M: +61 439 614 514 E: wierenga@unimelb.edu.au
