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Am I A Young Carer?
If you’re not too sure whether you (or someone you know) might be a Young Carer, a great place to start is this quiz! While we acknowledge that every caring role is different, and that not all Young Carers feel that they need to access support, we’re also incredibly passionate about raising awareness, promoting inclusivity and advocating for young people in caring roles!
Take the quizIt’s likely you’re a Young Carer!
A Young Carer is someone under the age of 25 who provides, or intends to provide care for a family member with a disability, illness, mental illness or an addiction – and your answers suggest that’s you!
Being a Young Carer can be awesome! Young Carers learn compassion, maturity, kindness and empathy from having a caring role, and often develop an incredible bond with the family member they’re supporting. But being a Young Carer can also have an impact on education, social life, employment and mental and physical health. That’s something we’re passionate about changing.
If you’d like to chat to us further about being a Young Carer, or the kind of support we can provide, then give us a call on 1800 717 515. You can also check out our range of support programs on offer here.
Otherwise, you can apply for support with us straight away, and we’ll be in touch!
You’re probably not a Young Carer.
A Young Carer is someone under the age of 25 who provides, or intends to provide care for a family member with a disability, illness, mental illness or an addiction. Your answers didn’t seem to match up with this definition.
But fear not! We know that every caring role is different, and this quiz may not always be right! So, if you’d like to chat to us further and assess whether we can support you, then give us a call on 1800 717 515.
We encourage you to read more about Young Carers here: Expert Guide and maybe even apply for some volunteering positions with us!
Get Involved
We welcome everyone to Little Dreamers through a range of tailored opportunities. If you're passionate about helping young people reach their full potential, then we'll get along!
Warm and Fuzzies
"Fantastic - Life changing for Young Carers to be acknowledged & supported in their role. For our daughter, it helps bridge the gap of what we can’t do with her due to our younger children’s extra needs with their disabilities. More people need to know they can access wonderful services like this."
"Nathaniel had an absolute fantastic Dream Experience, it was great just watching it be all about him, because he deserves so much, he never ask for anything..... so thank you very much for blessing him with this opportunity the smile didn't leave his face all day and it meant the world to us. "
"We worked really hard to ensure that Ethan knew that his Dream Experience was due to the incredible hard work Ethan undertakes on a daily basis as a young carer. The experience was absolutely unbelievable and Ethan felt validated, appreciated and exceptionally special. He loved every second of it."
"The program made my child feel like he was important too. He was overwhelmed and couldn't believe how lucky he was to be given this opportunity. Little Dreamers is a wonderful organisation, they made my son feel so special and made his little dream come true. I can't thank them enough. "
"Sam had reached the point where he felt that his own dreams were fast getting out of his reach because of the sacrifices he has had to make for his family and the sacrifices his family have had to make as a whole. Little Dreamers helped him no longer feel that it is impossible to reach for his dream."
"What a fantastic organisation, we were so lucky to have the kids involved for two days of your School Holiday Program in Melbourne. Everyone was so great interacting with all the children, catering to different ages an needs. Kudos to all involved. You fill a much needed area that is often overlooked."
"We just got home from the most amazing three days, our first family holiday! Maggie had the best time ever! We really don't know how to thank you, we will remember this for the rest of our lives. We are so grateful and appreciate it all so much. Little Dreamers made Maggie's dream come true and more. "
"Thank you so much for everything you have done for our family. We have found two amazing mentors for our children through your charity. Both of our children had amazing Dreams Experiences that have changed them forever, they will never ever forget your kindness. We can’t thank you enough. "
🌱 Why does the Young Carer Wellbeing Hub (the Hub) matter?
Young Carers are the unsung heroes in our communities, providing invaluable unpaid care to family members who need it. That`s why the Hub is so crucial. It`s a place where Young Carers can access therapy and support tailored to their needs.
With your help, we can make this vision a reality. Every dollar you donate – big or small – will go directly towards setting up this much-needed space.
Interested in making an immediate impact? Look through our Holiday Wish List to cover the cost of a specific item, such as a couch or therapy tools. Head to the link in our bio to donate now.
#YCWHub
In case you missed it, this holiday season, we`re running a campaign to help get our Young Carer Wellbeing Hub (the Hub) up and running!
So, what is the Hub? 🌈 Our new Hub is a safe, judgement-free space where Young Carers can access a variety of therapies designed to address the unique challenges they face in their caring roles. To make this happen, we`re asking for your support in creating this essential space for our community.
By covering the cost of an item on our Holiday Wish List or making a financial donation, you`re directly contributing to the heart of the Hub – making it a warm, comfortable, and supportive environment for Young Carers to focus on their wellbeing. Donate today at bit.ly/holiday-wish-list or follow the link in our bio!
#YCWHub
It`s Giving Tuesday, and we`re kicking off our campaign to help make our new Young Carer Wellbeing Hub (the Hub) a reality for Young Carers seeking access to a variety of therapies in VIC in early 2025!
Over the next two weeks, we`re aiming to raise $20,000 to create a welcoming space for our community to access the support they deserve. Whether you can cover the cost of an item from our Holiday Wish List or make a financial contribution, your support will make a huge impact. Every donation counts! 💖 Donate today at bit.ly/holiday-wish-list or follow the link in our bio.
#GivingTuesday #YCWHub
Our Summer School Holiday Programs for Young Carers in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are just around the corner and nearly booked up! We`ve got loads of fun stuff planned, including trips to the movies, ice skating, creative arts, and heaps more! To find out more, register, or join the waiting list, head to www.littledreamers.org.au/events or follow the link in our bio. ✨
[Image description: 1) Summer School Holiday Programs are coming up! 2) A Young Carer pets a Koala at our Spring School Holiday Program visiting the Ballarat Wildlife Park. 3) Head to www.littledreamers.org.au/events to register and find out more!]
Last week, our incredible Founder and CEO, Madeleine Buchner, was announced as a finalist for Australian of the Year! HUGE! Tonight, she’ll be attending the Victorian awards alongside other amazing state finalists being celebrated for their work and activism in our community. The winners of four categories, including Victoria’s Australian of the Year, will be announced.
Maddy started Little Dreamers at just 16, and now, thanks to her vision and dedication, we support over 6,500 Young Carers each year with respite, education, mentorship, advocacy, and resources.
Good luck, Maddy! We couldn’t be prouder of you and all that you’ve achieved! 💖
#AustralianOfTheYear #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers
In case you missed it, applications are open for the Young Carer Bursary Program and close on 22 November 2024. If you`re a Young Carer studying in Australia between 12 and 25 years old, this is for you!
So, what is the Young Carer Bursary Program? Simply put, it`s a helping hand. It`s money given to Young Carers to make life a bit easier while they`re studying and caring for someone. For the upcoming 2025 academic year, the program will offer 1,592 bursaries, each valued at $3,768, that Young Carers can use for various academic supports such as laptops, stationery, uniforms, school fees, and more.
Learn more and apply today via the link in our bio!