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One in Ten Young People in Australia are Young Carers, and they are in Urgent Need of Support

March 30th, 2023

Categories: Media Releases

Little Dreamers, Australia’s leading Young Carer organisation, has launched a new campaign ‘I Care. Do You?’ calling on the community to do more to care for the carers.

According to studies and surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Carers Australia, one in ten young people in Australia are Young Carers, and recent events such as the COVID pandemic and natural disasters means this number is rising faster than our welfare system can keep up with.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the lives of carers in Australia, with many reporting increased caring responsibilities and reduced access to support services, according to a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Furthermore, the recent natural disasters in Australia, including bushfires and floods, have had a particularly significant impact on carers and the people they care for, as stated by Carers Australia.

Little Dreamers has seen a 233% increase year on year in Young Carer engagements with their programs since the beginning of 2020, and a 300% increase year on year in Young Carer applications for support. Even in their drastically expanded operations, Little Dreamers now have a long wait list of young people in urgent need without the resources to respond.

“Demand has never been greater for our services, but it means that some Young Carers will miss out. And there’s significant risk associated with that.” Says Little Dreamers Founder and CEO, Madeleine Buchner OAM.

Young Carers who go unsupported face a myriad of risks in education, employment, mental and physical health, social wellbeing, and financial wellbeing. They are more likely to experience lower educational attainment and disengagement from school, unemployment and low levels of workforce participation, mental health issues, and living in households with low levels of income compared to their peers.

Little Dreamers’ new campaign ‘I Care. Do You?’ urges the community to support Young Carers by getting involved in their programs, making a donation, or sharing their message.

Find out more at www.littledreamers.org.au/icaredoyou.

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