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 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 Team
Maddy
Founder and CEO
Erin
People and Culture Manager
Sammy
Marketing and Communications Manager
Laura
Head of Programs
Tasha
Family Support Manager
Lindsay
Executive Manager (Carer Gateway)
Natalie
Branding and Communications Manager (Currently on Parental Leave)
Jasmine
Marketing and Design Coordinator
Rachel
Quality and Compliance Lead
Amy
Peer Support Practice Lead
Tahnee
Coaching Practice Lead
Richard
Counselling & Intake Lead
Casey
Young Carer Mental Health Clinic Lead
Amber
Young Carer Engagement Lead
Melanie
Young Carer Engagement Coordinator
Sasha
Program Lead
Lisa
Program Lead
Clara
Regional Program Lead (Lismore)
PJ
IT Administrator
Janine
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Peer Support) Sydney
Brooke
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Peer Support) Brisbane
Kathryn
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Peer Support) Bundaberg
Chantell
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Peer Support) Toowoomba
Beck
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Coaching) Brisbane
Christina
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Coaching) Bundaberg
Ashleigh
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Coaching) NSW
Erin T
Young Carer Support Coordinator (Coaching) Toowoomba
Melita
Community Engagement Coordinator (QLD)
Elizabeth
Volunteer Coordinator
Gurpavan
Young Carer Counsellor (QLD)
Josie
Young Carer Counsellor (QLD)
Niamh
Young Carer Counsellor (QLD)
Amelia
Family Support Worker
Lyndel
Peer Support Facilitator
Daisy
Chief Barketing Officer
Our Board
Tom Levi GAICD: Chair
Principal at Nous Group
Michael Gilbert: Treasurer
Senior Finance Business Partner at Australia Post
Dana Rochwerger
Digital Performance Marketer at Bega Group, Co-Founder at Not a Pony
Darren Lomman
Business Owner
Esther Nelson
Legal Counsel
Our Ambassadors
Elise Pulbrook
Dena Kaplan
Ariel Kaplan
Gemma-Ashley Kaplan
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."
Thanks for coming along to our Young Carers Festival at CERES on Sunday - we had a total blast! 🎉 HUGE shoutout to all our amazing volunteers, vendors, artists and stallholders for bringing the good vibes and making it an unforgettable day. 🙌
Swipe through to catch some highlights! ✨
📸 @faz.io
Carers Week 2024 is here! 🎉 Young Carers - we see you, celebrate you, and stand beside you!
During our favourite week of the year, we’re calling for everyone to honour all of the incredible carers across Australia, especially the Young Carers who balance school, friendships, and caring roles with grace and resilience (often without the recognition they deserve.)
Check out our CEO’s blog post to see how we`re dedicated to supporting these young people through holistic support, safe care education, and advocating for systemic change. We’ll be profiling some of our programs throughout the week, so stay tuned! If you’d like to directly support Young Carers, you can join us by sharing our posts to spread awareness, or becoming a regular donor which helps us continue our work making a significant difference to the lives of Young Carers!
Read the blog post via the link in our bio!
#CarersWeek2024 #LittleDreamers #YoungCarers
Today is World Mental Health Day and we’re recognising the 2 in 3 Young Carers who grow up with a mental illness of their own. Caring can impact us in lots of different ways, and taking care of ourselves is important to make sure we have enough in our cup to take care of others 💕
That’s why we’re so excited to let you know that our new Young Carer Mental Health Clinic is coming soon starting in Melbourne. The Clinic will deliver direct, therapeutic mental health services designed and delivered by people with lived and living experience.
Keep your eyes peeled, more information coming soon 👀
The Young Carers Festival in Vic is coming up THIS SUNDAY and registrations close TOMORROW! This year’s festival promises an epic day out at CERES Community Environment Park, packed with excitement for Young Carers and their families
⭐ Beatbox Kitchen - free meal for Young Carers registered with Little Dreamers!
⭐ Live Music with DJ Jodilly, Charlie Needs Braces and more!
⭐ Arts and Crafts workshops
⭐ Face Painting
⭐ Lawn games and giant bubbles
⭐ Scavenger Hunt
⭐ Terra Wonder Playspace
⭐ Stalls by Carers Vic, Carer Gateway, Satellite Foundation, Tandem, The Bouverie Centre, Different Journeys and Little Dreamers!
PLEASE NOTE: Entry is free for Young Carers registered with Little Dreamers. Young Carers aged 16 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Get your tickets via the link in our bio before tomorrow, Thursday 9 October!
Say hello to Naomi, a Young Carer who joined the Little Dreamers family in 2018 as part of our very first intake of Big Dreamers! Naomi has been a Young Carer for her mum, who faces mental health challenges, as well as two of her siblings who are both on the Autism Spectrum.
Over the past 6 years, she`s truly made the most of every opportunity, participating in programs like Level Up and the Young Carer Job Readiness Project, as well as being an ambassador for Young Carers across the board. It has been an absolute honour to be a part of Naomi’s journey!
We’re thrilled to see Naomi come full circle, recently stepping into a leadership role as a Team Leader in our Big Dreamers program. Watching her transition from participant to leader has been incredibly special, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things she continues to achieve!
Calling all 6-9-year-olds in NSW and QLD! Looking to learn about wellbeing and ways to wind down? Join our free Wind Down Wednesdays program! Gentle stretches, meditation, self-regulation and more! Sessions start 23rd October and run for six weeks, on Wednesdays between 4:00-4:45 pm in QLD and 5:00-5:45 pm in NSW.
Express your interest by 16th October via the link in our bio!