young carers

Who are young carers?

Q. I help my mother care for my brother who has a disability, I also clean and cook at times when I need to help out.  Am I  a young carer?

A. Yes, young carers can be primary carers, but they can also be a secondary carer.

Q. My mother suffers with Bi-Polar; at times she doesn't have the energy to do anything! At these times I help out with looking after my brothers and sisters. Am I a young carer?

A. yes you are a young carer!

young carers are young people who help care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental illness or who has a drug or alcohol problem.

What its like to be a young carer?

Many young carers tell us that caring can be a great thing to do, they?re proud of who they are and what they do and that they?ve built a whole lot of useful skills. Sometimes though, young carers say that caring can affect how they feel, how much time they get to spend with friends, doing schoolwork or holding down a job, and often they need some help.

Taking care of yourself:

If you?re caring for someone else it?s also important to take care of yourself.
Get some support and talk to someone you trust.
Keeping your worries and concerns to yourself and not telling anyone can often make things worse. Think about who you might be able to talk to like a caseworker, family member, friend, school counsellor, or doctor

Learn more about the condition the person you care for:

inding out more about the illness or condition your family member has often makes it less scary because you understand it better and what the person might be experiencing. Get the doctor or counselor to give you information or tell you about good websites with accurate information.

Express your feelings:

It sometimes helps to write things down that are concerning you in a journal. It is also good to find other ways of expressing yourself through art, music or just hanging out with friends. Going for walks and swims or bike riding can help to clear your head.

Eat, sleep and exercise:

Often when people are looking after others they forget to look after themselves. Look after your own health by eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.

Avoid Drugs and Alcohol:

It is sometimes tempting to use drugs or alcohol to get through difficult times. The trouble is that often they make things even more difficult later. If you or someone else is concerned that you?re using too much drugs or alcohol, talk about it with someone.

Don?t take it all on:

It?s important not to try and do everything yourself. Don?t be afraid to reach out to other people if things are getting difficult or you need a hand.

(Information from ?Who cares? We do.?  Carers Australia?s Supporting Young Carers Project, funded by Australian Government, Department of Family & Community Services)

What assistance is available?

Q. I am a young carer but I don?t need in-home respite or tutoring. I feel like I miss out on going out with friends and just having a break from my caring role. Is there help available for me?

A.  Yes. We can offer social outings, camps, sport registrations, transport assistance and much more. The program is tailored to meet the individual needs of each young carer.

The assistance available through the young carers' project is flexible depending on what the young carer needs and can include;

• Organizing respite to help young carers to have a break from caring and can be assistance in the home, young carer camps, or other planned and emergency respite.
• Information, advice and referrals to other respite options available to young carers.
• Support such as tutoring and purchase of school supplies to enable young carers to complete their primary and secondary education.
• We also offer sporting registrations, Girl guide and scouts registrations, fun days out, to places like the Easter show, powerhouse museum and centre based activities.
• Young carers respite options are individual, what is going to work for one young carer may not work for another. We look at each family as individual and base the respite on what would work the best for that family.

So if you think you are a young carer come into ycentral and see our young carer coordinator who is available at ycentral every last Thursday of the month 2pm-5pm.

Or to book and appoinmtent by phone, please call 4304 7870 and speak with our receptionist.

To download more on young carer information click these links:

Carers inforamtion

Carers information 2

useful links and resources

Minds, Myths and Me: A resource written by young carers for young carers, click HERE for a complete booklet

NSW Carers Program- Young Carers Project

Carers Programs, National Carers Australia

Carers Programs, International Young Carers Initiative (UK)

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers (UK)

Carers Respite  Options Central Coast

 Information for brothers and sisters.

Sibs A website that has useful siblings factsheets and links to other siblings websites.

Siblink- A website for primary school aged siblings. This website has games, information and gives you a chance to share your thoughts and find out how other siblings feel.

Your Shout - A website for teenage siblings. You can share your thoughts, chat with other siblings, read stories and find out about services that can help you.