About Us
What We Do
As Australia’s leading Young Carer organisation, we work with young people who provide unpaid care for a family member with a disability, illness or addiction across a range of direct support programs.
Over the past 10 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. From cities to rural farms, we work in every corner of Australia, ensuring Young Carers are never left out, forgotten or lonely.
We’re working to improve the quality of life of Young Carers right across the country, with an ultimate vision to ensure that every single Young Carer around the world is supported by someone or something by 2030.
Our Team
Maddy
Founder and CEO
Tasha
State Manager (VIC)
Carla
State Manager (NSW)
Alex
State Manager (QLD)
Nat C
National Head of Programs
Steph
National People and Culture Manager
Emma
National Marketing and Events Manager
Nat M
Graphic Designer
Laura
Education Program Manager
Miranda
Family Support Worker
Amber
Family Support Worker
Yuval
Big Dreamers Coordinator
Cassie
Impact Measurement and Research Analyst
Cath
Virtual CFO
Daisy
Chief Barketing Officer
Our Board
Trevor Givoni
Clinical Psychologist | Department of Education and Training
Rebecca Smith
Head of Marketing | Thankyou ANZ
Michael Thurin
Management Consultant | A.T. Kearney
Dana Rochwerger
Search Manager | Innovate Online
Sally McLeod
Group Financial Controller | Forever New Clothing Pty Ltd
Amanda Shilkin
People and Culture Manager | Luxury Escapes
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."
Our Ambassadors
Dena Kaplan
Ariel Kaplan
Gemma-Ashley Kaplan
Alicia Banit
Michael Short
Our Partners
Donors
It's officially June and we're gearing up for Rock Around the World taking place in less than 3 weeks' time! 🌏 🙌
Rock Around the World is a live virtual marathon that unites participants with one common goal - achieving an entire lap around the world (all 40, 075km) in just 24 hours!
Register now at www.rockaroundtheworld.org.au
Learn more about the other charities taking part:
@lsc.ph
@bbbsau
@varietyvic
@mirabelfoundation
@readysetau
@brainwaveaus
#RockAroundTheWorld2020 #RATWChallenge #StrongerTogether
Today is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Day. We support two beautiful families touched by the condition, so we wanted to take some time to help spread awareness about this extremely rare syndrome.
Worldwide, there are only approximately 400,000 people diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome. It's a lifelong condition and although lots of research is being carried out, there currently is no cure.
PWS is a non-inherited condition that's linked to the deletion or incompleteness of genes on the 15th chromosomes. This leads to neurological changes which cause altered growth patterns and development with associated cognitive disability and obsessive eating patterns.
There are no known reasons for the genetic accident that causes this condition, but medical professionals are learning more and more about PWS everyday, and there is hope. Hope that, through increased knowledge, we can help all people with this condition to live a fuller life despite their limitations and boost the possibility of finding a cure.
To find out more and lend your support, you can head to: praderwilli.org.au 🌟
#pws #praderwillisyndromeawareness #praderwillisyndrome
Big dreams to big realities 💫 #LDDreamBig
This year's theme for National Reconciliation Week (27 May - 3 June) is 'In this Together'. Although it was announced last year, the theme couldn't be more relevant or important given what’s happening around the world right now 🌏
On our journey to reconciliation, every one of us has a role to play, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.
Whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we really are all #InThisTogether ❤️💛🖤
#NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020
The amazing @jancowen at our IWD breakfast back in March! 🙌 We’re dreaming of the day we can have all these amazing individuals in one room again (and host more breakfasts)! 💕 #IWD2020 #LDDreamBig
Running into the weekend like...☀️#LDDreamBig
