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Meet Krystle: Redkite Education and Career Specialist







How would you explain your role as a Redkite Education and Career Specialist?

Basically, the role of an Education and Career Specialist is kind of like a coach, but for careers. It’s to assist a young person in looking at how cancer has impacted their career and education plans and/or created a barrier for them to achieve what they hoped they could before cancer. Once a young person understands this for themselves, we can then work together to put strategies and alternate options in place for them to continue to work towards those goals.


In the role of education and career support specialist, I have an understanding of the career development framework and stay updated on the labour market and industry trends so we can provide relevant information and guidance to the young people we work with.


Through my extensive experience in these type of support roles, I’m also aware of alternate pathways into study, different support options and career assessment methods that can help me guide and support the young people I work with.


What does a typical day look like for you?



In our role, there really isn't a typical day. Most mornings, I check emails and messages from colleagues and young people. Then, I usually have a few meetings with young people booked that can be face-to-face, over the phone or on Skype. These sessions usually explore career pathway options, helping navigate study enrolment or advocating for them in their workplace or study institution.




Then, I’ll spend a few hours working on Redkite projects that help improve our processes and ability to support young people, such as improving our data and reporting methods.


In the afternoon, I try to take some time to work on some resource development, such as the quarterly newsletter we send to young people. This newsletter provides relevant and useful information, such as key study dates to be mindful of, information on upcoming workshops, job readiness skills and much more relevant to the time of year.







Cancer is an unplanned, unwanted and unpredictable journey. When working with young people and their families, it’s important to first acknowledge the reality of this, as well as being aware that during the time you work with a young person, their goals, plans and ability to engage may change.


There are generally two groups of young people we work with – those who are recently diagnosed and/or in treatment, and young people who had a cancer diagnosis as a child and are living in the reality of the long-term impact cancer has had on their lives.


For those with a new diagnosis, common challenges include: 

  • Loss of independence, from relying on parents again and not having their own income
  • The stress of being unable to work but financial needs still need to be met, like rent, bills and petrol.
  • For those studying, it’s deciding whether to continue or altering their study plan to accommodate their treatment
  • Isolation from their peers in a big challenge young people face, as being away from work and study can have a big impact on them socially

 For young people who are years post-treatment but living with the long-term impacts of cancer, challenges can include: 

  • Challenges with self-confidence and social skills
  • For some their cancer meant they were unable to complete school, so navigating alternate pathways to get into tertiary study is important 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love that in my role of education and career support consultant, I get to work with ordinary young people facing a difficult time, who develop extraordinary resilience, tenacity and authenticity.








What have you learned from your time at Redkite?  



What’s one thing you’d like to tell a young person who has been diagnosed with cancer, or a family facing their child’s cancer?



Are there any special stories/ moments / thoughts you’d like to share?   


