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About Us

Make Life Better

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.

A young Maddy and her Co-Founder, Bec, sit proudly in front of a bright blue Little Dreamers poster the is pinned to the wall. The poster features our original Little Dreamers logo (a fairy silhouette holding a wand) and a collage of photos that are too small to decipher. Maddy wears a red beanie and a striped white off the shoulder top, and Bec on the right has long light brown hair and a fringe, with a light grey and pink t-shirt.

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.

 

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About Us

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's Headshot
Maddy

Founder and CEO

Erin's Headshot
Erin

Chief of Staff

Kelly's Headshot
Kelly

Chief Operations and Partnerships Officer

Lindsay's Headshot
Lindsay

Executive Manager (QLD and NSW)

Lucy
Lucy

Executive Manager (VIC)

Jasmine's Headshot
Jasmine

Marketing and Communications Manager

Callum's Headshot
Callum

Young Carer Wellbeing Hub Manager

Daisy's Headshot
Daisy

Chief Barketing Officer

Our Board

Geraldine Johns-Putra: Chair's Headshot
Geraldine Johns-Putra: Chair

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

Ben Spooner: Treasurer and Deputy Chair's Headshot
Ben Spooner: Treasurer and Deputy Chair

Chief Operating Officer at St John of God Accord

Tom Levi GAICD: Immediate Past Chair's Headshot
Tom Levi GAICD: Immediate Past Chair

Principal at Nous Group

Dana Rochwerger's Headshot
Dana Rochwerger

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

Rachel Ficinus's Headshot
Rachel Ficinus

Director Bereavement Services at Red Nose Australia

Josie Camilleri's Headshot
Josie Camilleri

Parent of Little Dreamers participants, Director at various projects

Eloise Modun's Headshot
Eloise Modun

Director, Strategic Advisory at Slattery

Madeline Greer: Secretary's Headshot
Madeline Greer: Secretary

Principal Designer - Community Experience at Hireup

Young Carer Advisory Committee

YCAC members (ages 16-25) use their lived or living experience as Young Carers to shape Little Dreamers' programming and policies, and contribute to advocacy and research around Australia.

Jacqueline's Headshot
Jacqueline

Little Dreamers Young Carer Voice Lead

Aristea's Headshot
Aristea

VIC

Eve's Headshot
Eve

QLD

Kyra's Headshot
Kyra

VIC

Sankara's Headshot
Sankara

VIC

Sebastian's Headshot
Sebastian

SA

Valentina's Headshot
Valentina

NSW

Zohaib's Headshot
Zohaib

VIC

Our Ambassadors

Elise Pulbrook's Headshot
Elise Pulbrook

Dena Kaplan's Headshot
Dena Kaplan

Ariel Kaplan's Headshot
Ariel Kaplan

Gemma-Ashley Kaplan's Headshot
Gemma-Ashley Kaplan

Little Dreamers Australia

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Our Advocates

Little Dreamers

"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."

Little Dreamers

"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?"

Little Dreamers

"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."

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