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 with a disability, illness or addiction. Over the past 12 years, 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, socialisation and financial wellbeing. It's our vision to create a world in which every Young Carer is supported by someone or something by 2030.
Our Team
Maddy
Founder and CEO
Carla
General Manager
Emma
National Marketing and Events Manager
Cath
Virtual CFO
Tasha
State Manager (VIC)
Tu
State Manager (QLD)
Nat C
National Carer Gateway Manager
Benita
Community Engagement Coordinator (Carer Gateway)
Laura
Education Program Manager
Nat M
Graphic Designer
Jess
Operations Coordinator
Taylar
Events and Fundraising Coordinator
Emma C
Dreamers Hub Editor
Steph
Volunteer Coordinator
Miranda
Family Support Worker (VIC)
Amber
Family Support Worker (VIC)
Gee
Regional Family Support Worker (VIC)
Yuval
Big Dreamers Coordinator
Mary
Family Support Worker (NSW)
Tahnee
Family Support Worker (NSW)
Katie
Program Coordinator (NSW)
Alycia
Program Coordinator (QLD)
Daisy
Chief Barketing Officer
Our Ambassadors
Dena Kaplan
Ariel Kaplan
Gemma-Ashley Kaplan
Alicia Banit
Michael Short
Our Board
Michael Thurin
Board Chair |
Management Consultant | A.T. Kearney
Trevor Givoni
Clinical Psychologist | Department of Education and Training
Dana Rochwerger
Digital Acquisition Manager | Bared Footwear
Sally McLeod
Group Financial Controller | Forever New Clothing Pty Ltd
Zoe Nasr
People and Culture Director at Remedy Drinks
Our Advocates
"Young Carers are some of the most resourceful and resilient people around. Heavy responsibilities rest on their shoulders and they face and overcome challenges, often daily, that most adults would struggle to solve. We should champion all children and young people in caring roles, recognise their talent and support them to have the choices and freedom that the rest of us take for granted."
"There is an emerging consensus that around 10% of children and young people are Young Carers. They are involved in various caring roles for an ill or disabled relative/parent in their family, such as showering them, helping them to the toilet, keeping an eye on them, etc. These children represent a hidden army of young people who are also family carers. They will be on your street, in your community, in your schools . . . . can you see them yet?"
"If you’re a young adult caregiver, I implore you to share your story. Make yourself known. This may mean opening up to a friend, forming an online peer support group, or meeting with your state representative. Whatever you do, however seemingly big or small, is incredibly important in ensuring that the world knows that you serve an invaluable role as a young adult caregiver. Your acts of sacrifice are courageous and inspiring, particularly in a society that increasingly argues that today’s millennials are selfish and narcissistic. You are irreplaceable. You matter."
Check out Deegan's epic Dream Experience last month! 🔴🔵
13-year-old Young Carer, Deegan, and his dad attended the AFL grand final in Perth and watched their team take home the premiership 🏆
Deegan also received a special video message from the Brayshaw brothers before the grand final (👉 to see)
A huge thank you to Angus and Andy Brayshaw for their help in making Deegan's Dream come true! 💫
ID in alt text.
#LDDreamBig #DreamExperience
Kicking off next week: Let's Talk About You & Me ✨📣
We've teamed up with @familyplanningnsw to deliver a three-part workshop series on our Dreamers Hub that's all about healthy relationships, consent, and more!
❗️The series is specifically for Young Carers aged 15 and above.
Find out more and register via the Dreamers Hub workshops link in our bio 🔗
It's with great excitement that we announce our new partnership with @goodwill_wine ✨
Want to support us just by drinking wine? Now you can!
Goodwill Wine sources quality boutique Australian wines and donates half of the profits to charities and non-profit organisations. So, by selecting us when you order, we get your donation and you get awesome wine 🍷
To celebrate our new partnership, they’re also offering free shipping for one week! Just enter the code FREESHIPLD at the checkout.
*Minimum order $60. Free shipping excludes WA, NT & TAS and Wine Club subscriptions as they're already discounted.
We are so excited to partner with @littlechangecreators to bring inspiration and creativity to Young Carers around Australia ✨
🎨 Little Change Creators is an Australian brand designing sustainable toys and gifts to nurture kid’s creativity and make a difference.
Their range of reusable colouring sets will be released mid-November and distributed to Young Carers in our Welcome Packs.
Swipe across to see our founder and CEO @madeleinebuchner having a blast with the seaside reusable colouring set 🐠👉
"In the future, I want to see every school, public and private aware of who young carers are, common issues they may face and support staff who are equipped to refer young carers to local, state and federal services that can make a real difference including working to mitigate the negative mental health effects a Young Carer may experience.
There’s an intense amount of pressure on young people with caring responsibilities, someone needs to pick up the slack." 💪
Read Jasmine's Carers Week blog here: bit.ly/jasmine-blog
ID: Million Reasons to Care blog by Jasmine. Jasmine's headshot is featured beneath the blog title on a pink background with stars. The image also includes the Little Dreamers logo and a multicoloured badge that says 'Carers Week'.
"This year’s National Carers Week theme ‘Millions of Reasons to Care’ reminds me of one of my favourite songs ‘A Million Dreams’ from the movie The Greatest Showman. Any other Zendaya fans here? ✨
As the line in the song goes, ‘I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see’. This is a world where other Young Carers, like me, are well supported in their role so they can reach their full potential."
Young Carer Ambassador, Jacq, shares her insights and dreams in her blog for Carers Week here: bit.ly/jacq-blog
ID: Million Reasons to Care blog by Jacqueline. Jacqueline's headshot is featured beneath the blog title on a teal background with stars. The image also includes the Little Dreamers logo and a multicoloured badge that says 'Carers Week'.