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Little Dreamers Australia

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About Us

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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.

Our Programs Our Impact
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
More statistics

Our Team

NATIONAL

Maddy's Headshot
Maddy

Founder and CEO

Erin's Headshot
Erin

People & Culture

Emma's Headshot
Emma

Marketing and Communications

Natalie's Headshot
Natalie

Branding and Communications

Tasha's Headshot
Tasha

Family Support Manager

Olivia's Headshot
Olivia

Volunteer Coordinator

Rachel's Headshot
Rachel

Education Program Lead

Brooke's Headshot
Brooke

Respite Portfolio Lead

Amy B's Headshot
Amy B

Peer Support Program Lead

Aisha's Headshot
Aisha

Sponsorship and Fundraising Coordinator

Jade's Headshot
Jade

Dream Experience Coordinator

Daisy's Headshot
Daisy

Chief Barketing Officer

NEW SOUTH WALES

Mary's Headshot
Mary

State Manager (NSW)

Janine's Headshot
Janine

Community Engagement Coordinator (NSW)

Fang's Headshot
Fang

Family Support Worker (NSW)

Tahnee's Headshot
Tahnee

Intake and Support Coordinator (NSW)

Leona DeBolt's Headshot
Leona DeBolt

Regional Program Manager - Lismore (NSW)

QUEENSLAND

Lindsay's Headshot
Lindsay

State Manager (QLD)

Beck's Headshot
Beck

Family Support Worker (QLD)

Richard's Headshot
Richard

Senior Intake and Support Coordinator (QLD)

Dee's Headshot
Dee

Regional Program Coordinator (QLD)

Kathryn's Headshot
Kathryn

Intake & Support Coordinator (QLD)

VICTORIA

Laura's Headshot
Laura

State Manager (VIC)

Sasha's Headshot
Sasha

Community Engagement Coordinator (VIC)

Amber's Headshot
Amber

Senior Intake and Support Coordinator (VIC)

Mel's Headshot
Mel

Intake & Support Coordinator (VIC)

Monika's Headshot
Monika

Family Support Worker - Geelong (VIC)

Our Board

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

Principal at Nous Group

Michael Gilbert: Treasurer's Headshot
Michael Gilbert: Treasurer

Senior Finance Business Partner at Australia Post

Dana Rochwerger's Headshot
Dana Rochwerger

Co-Founder at Not a Pony, Head of Digital and Funday Sweets

Rosie Thomas OAM's Headshot
Rosie Thomas OAM

Co-Founder of PROJECT ROCKIT

Darren Lomman's Headshot
Darren Lomman

Business Owner

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
Cybaal is speaking to the camera. She has long, straight black hair, and is wearing a plain black t-shirt. Only her shoulders and face are in view. She is mid sentence. In the background are the walls in her house and a door to the left.

Watch Cybaal's Story

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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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Dec 6

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Welcome to the first of our December Wishlist Wednesday series! 🎁 Each Wednesday leading up to Christmas, we'll be unwrapping a special Young Carer's wishes for their Dream Experience. If you can help us turn these dreams into reality (πŸ‘‰ maybe you know someone, work somewhere, etc.), please get in touch! ❀️ Our first Young Carer is 10-year-old Storm, from QLD. Storm cares for her mum, who has stage 4 Ovarian Cancer and needs support with general household duties such as cooking, cleaning, making beds and providing emotional support to her siblings. Storm would love to have a Dream Experience where she can spend rare and precious one-on-one time with her mum! Check out her ideas below. Can you help us make Storm's Dream come true? Shoot us a DM or email dreams@littledreamers.org.au πŸ“© ✨ Want to donate to support more Young Carer's like Storm? Head to the link in our bio ✨ #WishlistWednesday #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers #DreamExperience

Welcome to the first of our December Wishlist Wednesday series! 🎁

Each Wednesday leading up to Christmas, we`ll be unwrapping a special Young Carer`s wishes for their Dream Experience. If you can help us turn these dreams into reality (πŸ‘‰ maybe you know someone, work somewhere, etc.), please get in touch!

❀️ Our first Young Carer is 10-year-old Storm, from QLD.

Storm cares for her mum, who has stage 4 Ovarian Cancer and needs support with general household duties such as cooking, cleaning, making beds and providing emotional support to her siblings.

Storm would love to have a Dream Experience where she can spend rare and precious one-on-one time with her mum! Check out her ideas below.

Can you help us make Storm`s Dream come true? Shoot us a DM or email dreams@littledreamers.org.au πŸ“©

✨ Want to donate to support more Young Carer`s like Storm? Head to the link in our bio ✨

#WishlistWednesday #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers #DreamExperience ...

littledreamersaustralia

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Dec 5

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✨ Set a Place at the Table to a Young Carer this Christmas 🎁 Let's make this holiday season truly special. Make a difference in the life of a Young Carer with a small donation to Little Dreamers, equivalent to one extra spot at your table. ❀️ $50: Ignite joy with a Welcome Pack – info about Little Dreamers and goodies galore! πŸ’š $100: Kickstart a Young Carer's journey with a comprehensive intake, paving the way for life-changing support. πŸ’› $500: Make dreams come true! Sponsor a Young Carer's unforgettable Dream Experience. Your donation = Real Impact. Let's come together and ensure that every Young Carer has a seat at the table this Christmas. πŸš€ Head to our bio for the link to donate now #SeatAtTheTable #DreamBig #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers #ChristmasImpact

✨ Set a Place at the Table to a Young Carer this Christmas 🎁

Let`s make this holiday season truly special.

Make a difference in the life of a Young Carer with a small donation to Little Dreamers, equivalent to one extra spot at your table.

❀️ $50: Ignite joy with a Welcome Pack – info about Little Dreamers and goodies galore!
πŸ’š $100: Kickstart a Young Carer`s journey with a comprehensive intake, paving the way for life-changing support.
πŸ’› $500: Make dreams come true! Sponsor a Young Carer`s unforgettable Dream Experience.

Your donation = Real Impact.

Let`s come together and ensure that every Young Carer has a seat at the table this Christmas.

πŸš€ Head to our bio for the link to donate now

#SeatAtTheTable #DreamBig #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers #ChristmasImpact ...

littledreamersaustralia

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Dec 5

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We are beyond proud of Jacqueline, one of our incredible Young Carers, who was a recipient of the inaugural Alison Harcourt Award last Thursday πŸ™Œ The award, presented by Monique Ryan, recognises primary and secondary school students in the electorate of Kooyong who have demonstrated outstanding community service and citizenship. Jacq, we continue to be awed by you and everything you have achieved! ✨

We are beyond proud of Jacqueline, one of our incredible Young Carers, who was a recipient of the inaugural Alison Harcourt Award last Thursday πŸ™Œ

The award, presented by Monique Ryan, recognises primary and secondary school students in the electorate of Kooyong who have demonstrated outstanding community service and citizenship.

Jacq, we continue to be awed by you and everything you have achieved! ✨ ...

littledreamersaustralia

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Nov 30

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*ALL TICKETS HAVE NOW BEEN CLAIMED - sorry! πŸ•Ί Thanks to our friends at @theticketmerchantau, we have a limited number of tickets available to give away for The Wiggles live in concert in Melbourne this Saturday! Valid for Young Carers and their family members only. First in best dressed - send us an email at dreams@litledreamers.org.au if you'd like to claim them πŸ‘‹

*ALL TICKETS HAVE NOW BEEN CLAIMED - sorry!

πŸ•Ί Thanks to our friends at @theticketmerchantau, we have a limited number of tickets available to give away for The Wiggles live in concert in Melbourne this Saturday!

Valid for Young Carers and their family members only. First in best dressed - send us an email at dreams@litledreamers.org.au if you`d like to claim them πŸ‘‹ ...

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