Robots Programme
Stay connected to school, learning and friends during cancer treatment and recovery.
Being away from school during cancer treatment or recovery can leave rangatahi feeling disconnected from their learning, classmates and everyday school life. Canteen's Robots Programme helps rangatahi aged 12–18 stay connected to education, teachers and peers when they're unable to attend school in person, reducing isolation and supporting their wellbeing.
Using telepresence robots, rangatahi can join lessons in real time, interact with classmates and maintain a sense of belonging from home or hospital.
How it works
See how the programme keeps rangatahi connected to learning, friendships and school life.
Eligibility
Find out who can apply and whether the programme is right for your situation.
Getting Started
Learn what happens after you apply and how we'll support you every step of the way.
Information for Schools
Everything schools need to know about setup, classroom use and ongoing support.
Safety & Privacy
Learn about encryption, safeguarding, privacy and how the robots are designed for education.
Support the programme
Help us replace older technology with more AV1 robots for rangatahi.
How it works
School is about much more than learning. It's about friendships, routine, confidence and feeling like you belong. The Robots Programme helps rangatahi stay connected to their classroom when cancer treatment or recovery prevents them from attending school in person.
Here’s how it works:
- The robot sits in the classroom alongside teachers and classmates.
- The rangatahi connects from home or hospital through an app using a device (e.g., tablet, iPad, smartphone).
- They can see, hear and speak with their teacher and classmates in real time.
- They can control the robot remotely to look around the classroom, participate in lessons and stay involved in school life.
Eligibility
The Robots Programme may be suitable for rangatahi who:
- Are aged 12-18 years
- Have cancer or are impacted by cancer
- Are unable to attend school because of treatment or recovery
- Are Canteen members (or eligible for support)
- School participation & support
As numbers are limited, submitting an application does not guarantee a robot will be immediately available.
Getting Started
Applying is simple, and our team is here to guide you through the process from start to finish.
Once you apply, we'll:
- Review your application
- Talk with you about your needs
- Work alongside your school
- Organise setup and support
- Stay in touch throughout your journey
Every rangatahi participating in the programme is supported by Canteen's Robots Coordinator throughout their journey.
Information for Schools
- No recording: robots cannot record video or audio.
- Secure connection: All connections are fully encrypted and designed with student privacy in mind.
- Minimal setup: Our team provides guidance and support to help schools get started quickly.
- Easy to move: robots are lightweight and can be carried easily between classrooms.
- Wi-Fi or 4G: robots can connect using either the school's Wi-Fi or built-in 4G connection.
- Student buddies: Many schools nominate classmates to move the robot between lessons.
- Ongoing support: Our team is available to support schools and whānau throughout the placement.
Safety & Privacy
The wellbeing and privacy of rangatahi, whānau and everyone involved in the Robots Programme is a priority. We ensure each robot is used safely, responsibly and with appropriate consent and support.
Our approach includes:
- Privacy and safeguarding built into the programme
- No audio or video can be recorded
- Access is limited to authorised users
- Teacher oversight while the robot is in use
- Clear guidance and expectations are outlined for rangatahi, families, and schools
- Appropriate consent is obtained before a robot is used
- Ongoing support from Canteen is provided throughout each placement
Support the Programme
The AV1 is a telepresence robot created by Norwegian company No Isolation to help students stay connected to school when they can't be there in person. More than 5,000 AV1 robots are supporting students across 18 countries, and Canteen is proud to bring the first three AV1 robots to Aotearoa New Zealand through our Robots Programme.
With your support, we can:
- Purchase additional AV1 telepresence robots
- Expand the Robots Programme across Aotearoa
- Help more rangatahi stay connected to education
- Reduce isolation during cancer treatment or recovery
If you'd like to support the future of the Robots Programme, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Robots
Canteen offers two telepresence robot options to help rangatahi stay connected to school. We prioritise AV1 where available. If an AV1 isn't immediately available, rangatahi can choose to join the waitlist or use a Kubi robot to connect to their classroom sooner.
AV1
- Purpose-built for education
- One-way video for additional privacy
- Connects through the AV1 app
- Enhanced safeguarding and privacy features
Kubi
- Secure iPad mounted on a rotating base
- Two-way video (option to use an avatar instead of appearing on camera)
- Connects through Zoom
- Safe and effective way to stay connected to the classroom
Both robots allow rangatahi to connect from their own device while participating in lessons remotely.
“We had a great lesson with the young person joining us via the Kubi Robot. She 'sat' next to her friend and they were able to connect and talk over the work they were given. The students were very supportive and happy that she was able to join us!"
Daniel Ting, Teacher
FAQs
Yes. The Robots Programme is provided free of charge to eligible rangatahi and schools. The programme is funded through Canteen and supporters who help us provide access to telepresence technology for young people during cancer treatment and recovery.
No. The Robots Programme does not record or store any audio or video from the classroom. Lessons and interactions take place live only, ensuring the focus remains on real-time participation and connection.
It depends on the robot being used.
With AV1 robots, teachers and classmates cannot see the rangatahi. The rangatahi can see, hear and speak into the classroom, but remain unseen, supporting privacy and reducing pressure while unwell.
With Kubi robots, two-way video is used, meaning the rangatahi can see and be seen by the classroom through a secure connection. However, rangatahi can turn off their camera or use an avatar.
Robot allocation is based on suitability and availability.
Rangatahi can connect to the robot using a tablet, iPad, or smartphone. If a suitable device is not available, families or schools can talk to our team. In some cases, we will be able to provide a device to use during this time or help with an application for a Canteen grant to provide a device.
Privacy and safeguarding are central to the programme. All robot connections are secure and access is restricted to authorised users only. AV1 robots include additional privacy features designed specifically for education, while Kubi robots operate through secure, school-managed video connections.
We work closely with schools to ensure appropriate setup, safe use, and clear expectations for everyone involved.
No. The Robots Programme is designed to be simple for schools to implement. Once set up, the robot is easy to use in the classroom and does not require technical expertise.
Canteen provides guidance and support throughout the process, and many schools use student buddies to help move the robot between classes where needed.
Canteen provides support at every stage of the programme, including setup, onboarding, and ongoing use. We work alongside schools to ensure the robot is introduced smoothly and confidently into the classroom.
Support is available to answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and help ensure the experience works well for both teachers and rangatahi.