Our first-ever 2025 Annual Young Carers Survey amplifies the voices of 267 Young Carers aged 4-25, echoing much of what we already know and further highlighting that Young Carer support is not a marginal issue; it is a systemic one.
Across Australia, thousands of children and young people are stepping into adult roles long before they should. Young Carers are missing school, falling behind academically, experiencing high levels of stress, and living with significant financial pressure at home. Many are providing emotional support, managing medications, supervising siblings, and contributing financially — often without recognition.
When young people are forced to choose between caring and their education, and when families are going without essentials, we must respond with more than awareness. We need coordinated action across schools, health systems and government policy.
Young Carers are resilient, capable and deeply compassionate. But resilience should not be a requirement for survival.
Download the full 2025 Young Carers Survey Results below to learn more.
Interested in understanding how you can drive change forward? Check out our Founder and CEO’s Churchill Fellowship Report outlining six key Action Areas for supporting Young Carers here. Check out our Founder and CEO’s Churchill Fellowship Report outlining six key Action Areas for supporting Young Carers here.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-Annual-Young-Carers-Survey-Results-are-in.png7711100Jasminehttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgJasmine2026-02-25 10:41:292026-04-14 18:01:382025 Annual Young Carers Survey Results are in!
Earlier this year, I had the immense privilege of stepping away from day-to-day life at Little Dreamers to embark on a Churchill Fellowship. The Fellowship took me across the United States and England to explore one central question: What would our world look like if every system truly recognised, understood, and supported young people in caring roles?
Growing up as a Young Carer, I felt the weight of responsibility long before I had the language to name it. That lived experience became the seed that eventually grew into Little Dreamers. Sixteen years on, with more than 23,500 hours of direct support delivered each year and thousands of incredible Young Carers coming through our programs, the work remains both deeply personal and profoundly urgent.
Travelling overseas was a chance to step away from the noise and really listen to researchers, policymakers, service providers, educators, health professionals, and most importantly, to young people themselves. What I found was both confronting and inspiring.
In the United States, I saw extraordinary innovation driven by passionate individuals who refuse to let Young Carers remain invisible. Programs like the Caregiving Youth Project in Florida and the statewide model in Rhode Island showed what’s possible when schools take responsibility for identifying and supporting young people with caring roles. Their creativity and determination were remarkable, but I was also struck by how fragile this progress is without national legislation or consistent funding. Change rests heavily on a few leaders, and systems simply aren’t designed to recognise these young people.
In England, I found almost the opposite: a landscape shaped by strong legislation, clearer duties, better data, and more consistent recognition. Local authorities are required to identify Young Carers, with the rights of children and families placed firmly at the centre of this work. Organisations such as Sheffield Young Carers and Manchester City Council are embedding support into the everyday language and practice of schools, health services, and communities. This was powerfully evident as I stood alongside more than 900 Young Carers at the England Young Carers Festival – watching them laugh, connect, and be completely themselves – I was reminded just how transformative visibility can be.
Yet even in the UK, there are gaps. Identification remains inconsistent, funding remains a constant challenge, and even the most supportive environments can’t take away the reality that, at the end of the day, these young people return to complex home lives. But what England does offer is proof that systemic change is possible when responsibility is shared – when Young Carers aren’t just the focus of individual programs, but woven into the design of entire systems.
So, what does this mean for Australia?
Through the Fellowship, a clear and compelling Blueprint for the future of Young Carer support in Australia has emerged – one that builds on existing strengths, addresses critical gaps, and rethinks how education, health, government, and community systems work together. At its core is the principle of mainstreaming: moving Young Carers from the margins of policy and practice into the centre of every system that shapes their lives. This means shifting away from siloed programs toward shared responsibility, and from recognition as an afterthought to recognition embedded in every decision affecting children, young people, and families.
The Blueprint identifies six key areas which, together, set out a pathway toward a fairer, more consistent, and more compassionate future:
Mainstreaming Young Carers across all systems
Support that goes beyond respite
Whole-of-family approaches
Lived experience leadership
Stronger legislative protections
Research and data that truly reflect the scale and diversity of young caregiving in Australia.
These ideas didn’t come from theory – they came from the people I met, the families who generously shared their stories, and the decades of research and practice that have paved the way, and most importantly, they came from Young Carers themselves. If there is one message that echoed throughout my travels, it was this: Nothing for us, without us.Young people with caring roles must be leaders, co-designers, and experts in shaping the systems that affect their lives. Their insight is not optional; it is essential.
Publishing this report feels both like the completion of one journey and the beginning of another. From 2026 onwards, Little Dreamers is committed to working with governments, service providers, funders, educators, and communities to begin implementing this Blueprint. We know a change of this scale takes time, but we also know what’s possible when a community comes together behind a shared vision.
Whether you’re a Young Carer, parent, teacher, supporter, policymaker, or partner – this work is for you. I invite you to read the full report, share it widely, and reach out if you’d like to explore the findings in more detail. If your organisation, department, or community is ready to help bring the Blueprint to life from 2026 onwards, we would love to collaborate.
The next chapter starts now. Let’s write it together.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Churchill-Blog-Graphic2-1.png7711100Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2025-12-15 15:14:202026-04-14 15:08:27Nothing for us, without us: Reflections on my Churchill Fellowship and the future of Young Carer support in Australia
I’ve spent the past week and a half immersed in conversations with some of the most thoughtful and dedicated people working in the space of youth caregiving in the United States. From researchers to policy-makers to education leaders, each has offered a different lens on a shared challenge: how to support young people who provide care to family members, children and teens often navigating adult-sized responsibilities, while still trying to grow up themselves.
My Churchill Fellowship is grounded in a simple, yet layered, focus – what does best practice look like for supporting Young Carers across research, policy, and programming?
My time in the US is focused on understanding what an emerging market for Young Carer support looks like, how awareness is built, what gets prioritised, which models are used, and how momentum forms in the absence of a national mandate.
There’s no single blueprint, but what I’m seeing are patterns, sequencing, and creative approaches that offer valuable insights into how a movement begins and grows if we’re willing to pay attention.
In Australia, we use the term “Young Carer” to describe someone under 25 who cares for a family member with chronic or mental illness, disability, or substance dependence. It’s a term embedded in legislation and funding models, and one that many young people claim with pride. We have national data (albeit scattered over the past 25 years), a Federally funded bursary program, and organisations like Little Dreamers working to provide wraparound support. It’s not perfect, but it’s visible.
In the US, things look a little different. “Youth caregiver” is more commonly used, and the concept hasn’t yet found a strong foothold in national policy or public awareness. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. In fact, it might be happening on an even greater scale.
The American Association of Caregiving Youth estimates that over 5.4 million children under 18 provide care to family members in the US, a figure that may be conservative (AACY, 2023). A recent statewide survey in Colorado found that 14% of middle and high school students reported caregiving responsibilities, with particularly high rates among nonbinary youth, students from low-income backgrounds, and those from marginalised racial and ethnic groups (Armstrong-Carter et al., forthcoming).
And yet, these young people remain largely hidden from the systems that should be supporting them.
Some of the most powerful moments of my trip so far have been in conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Olson, a leading researcher and advocate in this space. Betsy talks about caregiving youth as experiencing “slow violence”, a kind of invisible, compounding harm that plays out not in a single event, but over time, through a lack of recognition, support, and tailored infrastructure. “The lives of youth caregivers are vigorously unimagined in the U.S.,” she writes, “sidelined by large caregiver advocacy organisations… and largely unknown by professionals who work with children and adolescents” (Olson, 2019).
It’s not that there’s a lack of care. It’s that there’s a lack of scaffolding around that care, no clear language, no national dataset, no policy mandate to include children in caregiving frameworks.
But my focus is not to compare deficits, but rather to understand what’s working, and what’s possible for Young Carers.
Last week I met with Stephen Osborn and Olivia Smith from the Department of Education in Rhode Island, who are working on integrating youth caregiving into state-wide education policy, something that remains almost unheard of across most US jurisdictions. Their work intersects with that of Dr. Leiha Edmonds, Dr. Andrea Kalvesmaki, and Dr. Julie Belkowitz, all of whom are pushing for stronger interagency coordination, more inclusive interdisciplinary identification, better data collection, and more inclusive definitions of family and care.
Across these conversations, a theme has emerged: while the US lacks a unified national framework for caregiving youth, there is extraordinary innovation happening at the local level. Programs like the American Association of Caregiving Youth, and the Caregiving Youth Project in Florida offer school-based counselling, respite opportunities, and academic support, all tailored to the needs of caregiving students. These initiatives are small, but mighty, and built by individuals who have spent decades pushing against structural invisibility.
In fact, what the US excels at is the micro: deeply embedded, community-based models that respond to the specific realities of their young people. In Australia, we’ve been working toward strong national consistency, which comes with the benefit of scale, but also the risk of rigidity. There’s something to be learned from the flexibility and responsiveness of the US approach, even if it is still too dependent on passionate individuals, geography and luck.
What I’m also seeing is a strong appetite for change. The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers included, for the first time, an explicit reference to caregiving youth. It laid out over 300 actions across five goals, many of which have begun to be implemented through federal and state partnerships (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022; 2024). Yet most stakeholders I’ve spoken with acknowledge that youth remain underrepresented in the roll-out, “We are only as strong as the supports we offer to those who care, including young people.”
This sentiment echoed something I’ve long felt in my own work: that recognising Young Carers isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about designing systems that honour the complexity of care, and the childhoods it intersects with.
So where does this leave us? I think the answer is somewhere in between. Australia has built important foundations: formal recognition, a growing evidence base, and a small network of funded services. The US, on the other hand, has grassroots momentum, locally-driven programming, and an emerging research community ready to lead change.
Perhaps best practice isn’t about choosing one path. Perhaps it’s about braiding the strengths of each: the clarity and scale of national policy with the intimacy and responsiveness of community action. Perhaps it’s about weaving together research that is co-produced, policy that is inclusive and enforceable, and programming that is flexible enough to meet young people where they are at.
I’ll continue listening, learning, and asking questions as I travel. But I sit in this first leg of my journey with a deep respect for the people doing this work in the US, often without a roadmap, often against the odds. They’ve reminded me that sometimes the most powerful change begins in the classroom, the clinic, or at the kitchen table, and that even without a national mandate, it’s possible to imagine a system that sees and supports caregiving youth in all their strength and struggle.
“The burden of care should never cost a child their future.” – American Association of Caregiving Youth, 2023
And it shouldn’t have to, on either side of the Pacific.
Written by Madeleine Buchner OAM
I’ll be continuing my Fellowship heading down to Florida next to see the inner workings of the leading US organisation for Young Carers, the American Association of Caregiving Youth, exploring local strategies, and youth-led approaches to identifying and supporting young carers. If you’re working in this space, anywhere in the world, I’d love to hear from you.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Caring-without-a-roadmap-reflections-on-the-US-approach-to-Youth-Caregiving.jpg410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2025-06-11 18:50:052026-04-14 15:59:51Caring without a roadmap: reflections on the US approach to Youth Caregiving
This week, I begin a journey that’s been years in the making: my 2024 Churchill Fellowship. Over the next six weeks, I’ll be travelling to the United States and the United Kingdom to study how different countries recognise and support Young Carers, children and young people who provide care for a family member with disabilities, chronic or mental illness, substance dependence, or ageing-related conditions.
In Australia, we’ve made progress. Through Little Dreamers, we’re supporting thousands of Young Carers each year, and the new National Carer Strategy has finally acknowledged this group at a federal level. But we still have a long way to go.
There’s no national framework, no standardised assessment process, and no clear accountability across government and services to ensure Young Carers are supported. My Fellowship seeks to understand what best practice support for Young Carers looks like and how we get there.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be visiting and learning from global leaders in Young Carer policy, research, and program delivery:
Chapel Hill, North Carolina (24 May–10 June) with Professor Elizabeth (Betsy) Olson at the University of North Carolina, whose research explores youth caregiving through an equity lens.
Boca Raton, Florida (10–13 June) with Connie Siskowski and the American Association of Caregiving Youth, pioneers of school-based support for Young Carers.
Manchester, UK (14–21 June) with Professor Saul Becker at Manchester Metropolitan University, a trailblazer in Young Carer research and the architect of the UK’s legislative recognition of Young Carers, and a range of other Northern England service providers.
London, UK (21 June–6 July) with Andy McGowan and the Carers Trust team and several London-based government and Young Carer support services, exploring cross-sector coordination and the implementation of national Young Carer assessments.
I’ll also attend the UK Young Carers Festival, where hundreds of Young Carers unite for celebration, advocacy and visibility. I can’t wait to see it in action.
My Fellowship focuses on five key questions:
Who is responsible for identifying and supporting Young Carers?
What does a trauma-informed, best-practice intake and support model look like?
How can we create cross-sector accountability across health, education, and social services?
What policy shifts and advocacy tools have driven change overseas?
How can we ensure equity, particularly for rural and marginalised Young Carers?
I’m especially interested in the “how” – how change happens, how systems collaborate, how we engage Young Carers in co-design, and how we ensure that support is sustainable, ethical, and child-centred.
I am so grateful to the Winston Churchill Trust for this opportunity, but this is more than a study tour. It’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding, strengthen our systems, and ensure Young Carers in Australia don’t fall through the cracks.
At Little Dreamers, we believe Young Carers are young people first. They deserve the same opportunities, well-being, and freedom as their peers, and it’s our job to make that possible.
Throughout my travels, I’ll share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments on our Instagram and LinkedIn. Keep an eye out for blog posts from each city, including key lessons, unexpected discoveries, and inspiring stories.
If this work moves you, please consider supporting us. Every donation helps us reach more Young Carers through programs that empower, protect and uplift.
Little Dreamers is in good hands while I’m away, and we’re only getting stronger. Let’s build the future that Young Carers deserve.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Churchill-Fellowship-Begins-A-Journey-to-Learn-from-the-Best.jpg410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2025-05-26 16:19:432026-04-14 16:33:59The Churchill Fellowship Begins: A Journey to Learn from the Best
With the 2025 Federal Election happening on Saturday 3rd of May, many Young Carers might be voting for the first time and asking: what does this election mean for me?
We’ve reviewed the major party platforms to highlight what’s being promised for Young Carers, young people, mental health, education, and support services.
Please note, the below is not an exhaustive list of all of the pre-election commitments that the major parties and independents have made. We encourage you to use this guide as a starting point and do your own research. Some great resources include: The Conversation Policy Tracker and The ABC Labor and Coalition election commitments.
Support for Carers and Social Services
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Education and Support for Young People
Cost of Living and Community Supports
What this means for Young Carers
This election will impact how Young Carers access mental health services, education opportunities, carer support payments, and cost-of-living relief. Some key questions to think about when voting:
Are mental health services accessible and affordable for young people and carers?
Will education reforms reduce financial barriers and improve outcomes for Young Carers?
Are Young Carers and carers being recognised in government policies and funding?
While there are promising investments in health, education, and cost of living, Little Dreamers is disappointed by the lack of direct commitments to and for Young Carers, including dedicated mental health services, specific respite options tailored to their needs, and clear recognition of Young Carers in education support measures. Little Dreamers remains steadfast in our mission to ensure Young Carers are visible and supported across all areas of policy. Investment in Young Carers and the caring community is key to ensuring equal quality of life and opportunities across the country, irrespective of caring responsibilities or family circumstances.
If you’re voting for the first time, your voice matters. Every vote shapes the future for Young Carers across Australia.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/How-your-vote-can-shape-your-future.png7711100Jasminehttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgJasmine2025-04-29 13:56:372026-04-14 16:01:40How your vote can shape your future.
Today is Young Carers Action Day, and we’re amplifying their message: Give Me a Break!
Young Carers give so much of their time and energy to support family members who need care, but without proper breaks, it can be overwhelming.
We’ve put together a list of actions to share simple ways that educators, services, businesses, employers, and YOU can support Young Carers – whether it’s raising awareness, checking in on a Young Carer you know, or engaging with media that portrays Young Carers so that they can be represented in the mainstream.
Six Ways to support Young Carers
Provide Access to Respite Care Services
Local communities or carer organisations can connect Young Carers to respite services, which allows them to take time off from their caregiving duties while ensuring their loved ones are well cared for.
Raise Awareness on Social Media
Share posts about Young Carers Action Day, the challenges Young Carers face, and how others can help. Use the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay to spread the word, follow organisations that support Young Carers, and encourage others to join in the effort.
Raising awareness is key to creating a supportive community for Young Carers. The more people who know how to identify Young Carers, understand their needs, and what they can do to support, the more likely they are to get involved.
Donate to Charities Supporting Young Carers
Consider making a one-off donation or setting up a monthly donation to organisations like ours that directly support Young Carers by providing resources, respite programs, and advocacy.
Offer Flexible Time for Education or Activities
Schools, universities, and youth groups can allow Young Carers to take time off for self-care or attend activities that help them recharge. Creating flexible study schedules or offering special leave for Young Carers can make a big difference.
Encourage and Help with Job or Educational Opportunities
Support Young Carers with job applications, further education, or apprenticeships by providing guidance or acting as a reference. Offer to review their CV or assist with interview preparation.
Young Carers often miss out on opportunities due to their caregiving role. By providing support in their career and education, you give them a chance to build a brighter future while still balancing their responsibilities.
Provide Access to Free or Discounted Leisure Activities
Access to leisure activities helps Young Carers de-stress, stay active, and enjoy time away from their caregiving responsibilities. If you’re a local business or community center, consider offering free or discounted passes to gyms, cinemas, or recreational classes (e.g., dance, art, or sports) for Young Carers.
Take a break out of your day to support Young Carers. Even the smallest actions can make a big difference!
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Young-Carers-Action-Day-Give-Me-a-Break.jpg410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2025-03-12 09:12:322026-04-14 16:05:52Young Carers Action Day: Give Me a Break!
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 anindividual.
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!
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Why-are-Peer-Support-programs-so-important-for-Young-Carers.jpg410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2024-10-18 09:08:002026-04-14 16:07:55Why are Peer Support programs so important for Young Carers?
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!
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.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Donor-Support-Makes-Our-Young-Carer-Programs-Possible.webp410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2024-10-16 09:05:002026-04-14 16:08:20Donor Support Makes Our Young Carer Programs Possible
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:
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.
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.
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 donorwhich 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.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Carers-Week-2O24-We-see-you-celebrate-you-and-stand-beside-you.webp410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2024-10-14 09:02:002026-04-14 16:08:41Carers Week 2O24: We see you, celebrate you, and stand beside you!
The Australian Department of Social Services (DSS) is developing a new National Carer Strategy, and they want to hear from you! This is your chance to have your voice heard and ensure that the challenges, hopes, and dreams of Young Carers are front and center in this important plan.
What is the National Carer Strategy?
The National Carer Strategy is a big plan designed to help people like you who care for family members who need support. The government wants to know what would make your life better, what support you need, and how they can help you balance caring with school, work, and life. This strategy is their way of saying, “We see you, we hear you, and we want to make your life better.” They’re working on a plan that covers everything from mental health support to education and job opportunities, to make sure you have the tools and resources you need to thrive, not just survive.
Why is Your Input Important?
You have a unique perspective that no one else does. Your experiences, challenges, and ideas can shape how carers are supported in the future. This is a chance to tell the government what matters most to you and how they can make things better for you and those you care for.
Why Now?
You might be wondering why this is happening now. Well, a lot has changed since the last time the government had a big plan for carers. With new systems like the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and changes in aged care, the way carers like you are supported needs an update too. Plus, with more and more people needing care, especially as our population gets older, it’s super important to make sure carers are getting the help they need. This new strategy is all about making sure the support for carers keeps up with these changes, so you’re never left behind.
How can you get involved?
We would love for you to submit your experiences, thoughts and ideas by answering one or more of the questions below. You can do this in a few different ways:
Written response (maximum 1,000 words)
Artwork
Recording
Our goal is to gather your insights and compile them into a submission that reflects the diverse voices and needs of Young Carers, which will be presented to DSS as part of the consultation process of the new National Carer Strategy.
This is an opportunity for you to shape the policies and support systems that will directly impact your lives and the lives of those you care for.
Questions for you to respond to:
Do you use the term Young Carer? Is there other language that you prefer to use?
What responsibilities do you take on as a Young Carer? Are you the main carer, or do you share responsibilities with others?
What does the term Primary Carer mean to you?
What would make it easier for you to manage your caring responsibilities? Are there skills you want to learn to help you care better?
Have you engaged with carer support services before? What was your experience, and how could these services be improved?
Has anything ever made it difficult for you to take a break from your caring role? If so, what would help you feel more comfortable taking a break?
How do you manage school or work alongside your caring role? What would help you better balance these responsibilities?
What are the top three challenges you face as a carer? What do you think would make a big difference in your life and the life of the person you care for?
Have you joined any support groups for carers? What was helpful, and what could be better?
Do you belong to a diverse community (e.g., First Nations, CALD, LGBTQIA+)? How can the strategy better support you and others in your community?
Have you applied for financial support as a carer? What challenges did you face, and how could the process be improved?
Have you ever needed emergency help as a carer? What was your experience, and what could be done better?
Is there anything else you want to share about your experience as a Young Carer?
Once you’ve put together your response, submit it via the link below and have your voice heard! If you want to learn more about the National Carer Strategy, check out the Discussion Paper here.
https://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Have-your-voice-heard-as-part-of-the-National-Carer-Strategy-Development.webp410585Clarahttps://littledreamers.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/logo.svgClara2024-08-20 08:56:002026-04-14 16:15:05Have your voice heard as part of the National Carer Strategy Development!
