ABOUT US

WHAT WE DO

Hello! We’re Australia’s leading Young Carer organisation, supporting young people who provide unpaid care for a family member affected by disability, chronic or mental illness, substance use or frail age, in VIC, NSW and QLD. Since our launch in 2009, we’ve become a game changing force in the Young Carer space, developing internationally recognised best practice programs and changing the lives of thousands of Young Carers around Australia.

Across a range of direct support programs, both in-person and online, we’re working to improve the quality of life of Young Carers across five key areas of risk: education, employment, mental and physical health, social wellbeing and financial literacy.

OUR PROGRAMS OUR IMPACT

Our Story

Our story began when our Founder and CEO was just nine years old and asked the very question that still drives us today, “who cares for the carers?”

Maddy grew up caring for her younger brother, who had a range of chronic illnesses, and her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. At nine years of age, she identified a gap in the support system for Young Carers and began to raise awareness through fundraising events and stalls.

Over a decade later and with more than 6,500 young people reached nationwide, Little Dreamers is Australia’s leading Young Carer organisation. Across a range of key support programs co-designed with young people in caring roles, we’re breaking down barriers and empowering youth, with a vision to ensure that every Young Carer around the world is supported by someone or something by the year 2030.

Watch our Documentary

Young Carers

A Young Carer is someone aged 25 or under who provides care for a family member affected by disability, chronic or mental illness, addiction, or frail age.

We know from experience that being a carer can be an amazing thing. Young Carers often learn compassion, kindness and empathy from having a caring role, and develop an incredible bond with the person they care for. But being a Young Carer can also significantly impact on one’s education, social life, employment and mental and physical health. That’s where we come in!

Did you know?

  • It’s estimated that 1 in 10 young people in Australia are carers
  • Young Carers are twice as likely to be disengaged from work or study than their peers
  • Carers have higher rates of poverty than non carers
  • 2 in 3 Young Carers experience mental health challenges

Our Executive Team

Maddy

Maddy

Founder and CEO
Erin

Erin

Chief of Staff
Lindsay

Lindsay

Executive Manager (Program Delivery)
Tasha

Tasha

Executive Manager (Family Support)
Jasmine

Jasmine

Marketing and Communications Manager
Jacqueline

Jacqueline

Fundraising & Events Manager
Callum

Callum

Young Carer Wellbeing Hub Manager
Daisy

Daisy

Chief Barketing Officer

Our Board

Tom Levi GAICD

Tom Levi GAICD

Chair – Principal at Nous Group
Dana Rochwerger

Dana Rochwerger

Digital Performance Marketer at Bega Group, Co-Founder at Not a Pony
Rachel Ficinus

Rachel Ficinus

Director Bereavement Services at Red Nose Australia
Ben Spooner

Ben Spooner

Chief Operating Officer at St John of God Accord
Josie Camilleri

Josie Camilleri

Parent of Little Dreamers participants, Director at various projects
Geraldine Johns‑Putra

Geraldine Johns‑Putra

Principal Lawyer at Geraldine Grace, Chief Legal and Data Officer, Company Secretary at Coast 4C
Eloise Modun

Eloise Modun

Director at Infrastructure Victoria

Watch Cybaal’s Story

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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.

   

Registered Charity

Little Dreamers Australia is a registered charity.

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