Why are Peer Support programs so important for Young Carers?

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Quite a common answer we get to this question directly from Young Carers is “I met other kids just like me…. I no longer feel like I’m alone” or “I found a place where I feel like I belong”….. Another piece of feedback that caught my attention recently was that the Young Carer felt encouraged by others within the group to speak up for herself.

Sit with that for a minute – close your eyes if you will….

In a world where routines may be centred around the care recipient’s needs or capacity, speaking up for your own needs as a Young Carer might be a brand-new skill, integral to your growth as an individual. Early intervention offerings such as the Peer Support program create that opportunity for this shared learning and personal growth, whilst exploring various topics.

Connection, Hope, Identity Meaning and Empowerment. The core themes from the evidence-based CHIME Model, which is centric to our Peer Support programs. Creating engaging and strengths-based programs which are led by Young Carers’ interests, our focus is on building trust and a sense of community within the group.

(Dis-)Connection in a fast-evolving digital era poses its own challenges that are slowly coming to light. Throw together in the mix being a Young Carer with limited access to activities or friendships outside of the school / work  / home environment and we potentially have many disconnected Young People. Loneliness and isolation are significantly detrimental to emotional and physical health. The Peer Support program aims to eliminate this disconnection by bringing Young Carers together, providing them with space to share commonalities and build relationships. Teaching staff from a school reported witnessing Young Carers “transforming themselves through shared common experiences. Shared understandings are powerful experiences that help Young Carers build their self-worth, leading to better self-esteem and belief in their leadership abilities.” 

Sit with this, shall we? Consider a world where Young Carers all have the space to engage within a Peer Support program, connect with other children / young people just like them, and fill their wellbeing buckets right up to the brim. At Little Dreamers, we strive to make this dream a reality, one Young Carer at a time…. Whether it be creating new friendships during a 3 day camp in the outback, connecting Young Carers in remote regions with online programs, forming communities within schools, sharing enjoyment at a theme park (School Holiday Programs), or in collaboration to provide Peer Support with various organisations that support our work. 

Now, this is the last time that I’ll request that you close your eyes… but this time, can you consider what it might mean for you to feel supported, seen, valued and heard as an individual.

Once you open your eyes, hold onto how that felt…. This is our mission in supporting Young Carers within our Peer Support programs. Ensuring that each and every Young Carer feels supported, seen, valued and heard.

If you’d like to join us and help to support Young Carers continue to participate in vital programs like Peer Support, consider becoming a regular donor!

Donate Now!

Thank you to all of the inspiring Young Carers out there. We see you.

Take care,

Amy

Peer Support Practice Lead (Carer Gateway Region QLD & NSW 2)

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Donor Support Makes Our Young Carer Programs Possible

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Yesterday marked the first day of Carers Week 2024 – an important week that encourages us to recognise, celebrate, and honour the incredible contributions of carers across Australia. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and appreciate those who dedicate their lives, often silently, to supporting others. From workplace morning teas to a simple call to a carer in your life to ask, “How are you, and what do you need?”, this week is about connection and gratitude.

At Little Dreamers, our focus is on an often-overlooked group – Young Carers. These remarkable young people, 1 in 10 across the country, give up parts of their own childhood to care for parents, siblings, or grandparents living with chronic illness, disability, mental health conditions, or substance dependence. Every day, they navigate immense challenges, balancing their care roles with education, friendships, and personal growth. And yet, they rarely ask for recognition, help, or applause.

We often talk about the hardships Young Carers face – educational disadvantage, social isolation, financial insecurity, and poor mental health. But what if we flipped the narrative? What if, instead of focusing solely on the obstacles, we highlighted the skills these young people cultivate through their care roles? Young Carers are resilient advocates, exceptional multi-taskers, skilled communicators, and We’ve just wrapped up our Spring School Holiday Programs, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our generous donors for making these programs possible. These programs give Young Carers a much-needed day of respite, a chance to connect with fellow Young Carers, and the opportunity to engage in activities where they can focus entirely on themselves.

Over the past two weeks, Young Carers have…

  • Learned how to juggle
  • Played arcade games and bowling
  • Visited the TreeTop Challenge Adventure Park for exhilarating physical activities
  • Enjoyed the many benefits of nature with a day out at a creek
  • Used their creativity with crafting, painting, and pottery making
  • Tried out sandboarding
  • Encountered sharks and rays
  • Visited Warner Bros. Movie World for a day of rides
  • Learned the art of karate
  • Experienced a day as a Zoo Keeper
  • Saw Beauty and the Beast on stage
  • And so much more!

We feel incredibly fortunate to provide such a wide range of fun activities to Young Carers across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. These and all the other programs Little Dreamers Australia offers would not be possible without the support of our amazing funders.

Our goal is to expand these programs nationally across Australia, but we can only achieve this with the support of generous donors like you. If you’d like to help us reach even more Young Carers, you can make a donation here.

Young Carers gain so many benefits from attending our programs, including:

Validation of their experience

I got time out with others that understand.


Social isolation and loneliness are common among Young Carers, making them a vulnerable and often overlooked group of young people in our community. When they attend our programs and meet other Young Carers in similar circumstances, they realise they are not alone. They have a group to connect with and share their worries and hardships with, developing deep connections that can last a lifetime.

Social connection

Everyone was kind to me.


Many Young Carers experience bullying at school because of their increased maturity due to their caring responsibilities or because their family member is perceived differently due to stigma surrounding disability. Our programs provide a safe space for Young Carers to connect socially, allowing them to relax and be themselves among people who understand them.

Time for themselves

I get to do things that I would otherwise never have the chance to do.


Young Carers often make sacrifices that others their age wouldn’t have to make. Our School Holiday Programs give them the chance to create new memories and do something they enjoy without worry or guilt.

Confidence building

I felt really proud.


Our programs give Young Carers the chance to push themselves, grow their skills, and build confidence, showing them that they are more than just their caring responsibilities.

Having fun

Having fun and feeling connected with other Little Dreamers.


At the end of the day, we want our Young Carers to have fun. Their smiles and excitement for the next program remind us how important it is to create these opportunities for support and respite.

This Carers Week, we’re asking you to join our donor community and help us continue providing ongoing support and experiences to Young Carers. Your support can make a lasting impact and help us achieve our mission of ensuring every Young Carer is supported by someone or something by 2030.

A donation of $50 per month would be an incredible contribution to the costs of running our programs. With your support, we can continue to offer Young Carers life-changing experiences. Please support Young Carers by supporting us today!

Donate Now!

If you would like to talk to someone about making a donation, please contact Jacqueline Coughlin at 03 7036 8148 or email jacquelinecoughlin@littledreamers.org.au.

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Carers Week 2O24: We see you, celebrate you, and stand beside you!

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Yesterday marked the first day of Carers Week 2024 – an important week that encourages us to recognise, celebrate, and honour the incredible contributions of carers across Australia. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and appreciate those who dedicate their lives, often silently, to supporting others. From workplace morning teas to a simple call to a carer in your life to ask, “How are you, and what do you need?”, this week is about connection and gratitude.

At Little Dreamers, our focus is on an often-overlooked group – Young Carers. These remarkable young people, 1 in 10 across the country, give up parts of their own childhood to care for parents, siblings, or grandparents living with chronic illness, disability, mental health conditions, or substance dependence. Every day, they navigate immense challenges, balancing their care roles with education, friendships, and personal growth. And yet, they rarely ask for recognition, help, or applause.

We often talk about the hardships Young Carers face – educational disadvantage, social isolation, financial insecurity, and poor mental health. But what if we flipped the narrative? What if, instead of focusing solely on the obstacles, we highlighted the skills these young people cultivate through their care roles? Young Carers are resilient advocates, exceptional multi-taskers, skilled communicators, and brilliant problem-solvers. They understand compassion at a level many of us can only aspire to, forging deep connections through their care.

But recognising their strengths isn’t enough. We need to do more than celebrate them; we need to support them. In our work at Little Dreamers, we believe that best-practice support for Young Carers is built on three essential pillars:

  1. Support for young carers as young people first:Every Young Carer is, at their core, a child or young person, with dreams, friendships, and aspirations outside their care responsibilities. We must empower Young Carers to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically by providing programs that meet their needs holistically, acknowledging both their care role and their individual identity.
  2. Education for safe caring:Caring can be physically and emotionally demanding and more often than not, Young Carers are never taught how to undertake their caring tasks. We need to equip Young Carers with practical skills, tools, and resources to care safely and effectively, ensuring their own wellbeing isn’t compromised. Supporting Young Carers means empowering them to care while also caring for themselves.
  3. Driving policy change and research:Lasting change requires more than individual support—it demands systemic transformation. We need to push for research and advocate for policies that recognise the needs of Young Carers, ensuring they are no longer invisible in the systems designed to support families and health.

These three pillars—support, education, and advocacy—are the foundation of everything we do at Little Dreamers. When woven together, they create a strong network of care that meets Young Carers where they are at and helps them grow, flourish, and lead fulfilling lives.

As we move through Carers Week, my challenge to you is simple: What role will you play? Can you start a conversation about Young Carers? Could you call someone you know in a care role and offer a helping hand or a listening ear?

This week is about more than just recognition—it’s about action. Together, we can create a future where no Young Carer feels isolated or invisible. A future where Young Carers have the same opportunities as their peers to learn, grow, and dream big. A future where the skills they develop through care aren’t just acknowledged but celebrated and nurtured.

Let’s make Carers Week 2024 a turning point. A moment when we move beyond awareness to action. When we see, support, and champion Young Carers—not just for one week a year, but every day.

To every current or former Young Carer reading this: I see you, I celebrate you, and I stand beside you. Thank you for all that you do, often without recognition or praise. You are the heart and soul of your families, and you are never alone in this journey.

If you’d like to directly support Young Carers, you can join us by becoming a regular donor which helps us continue our work making a significant difference to the lives of Young Carers!

This Carers Week, let’s raise our voices, lend our hands, and create a community that lifts carers up. Because when Young Carers thrive, we all thrive.

Happy Carers Week, 

Madeleine Buchner OAM

Founder and CEO, Little Dreamers

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Little Dreamers is proud to be building our community across Australia. In doing so we pay our respects to our First Nations people, the Traditional Custodians of the land. We acknowledge the Elders, past, present and emerging. We seek to build respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country to support Young Carers from these backgrounds.

We embrace, celebrate and uplift members of LGBTIQA+ communities.

   

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