This week, I begin a journey that’s been years in the making: my 2024 Churchill Fellowship. Over the next six weeks, I’ll be travelling to the United States and the United Kingdom to study how different countries recognise and support Young Carers, children and young people who provide care for a family member with disabilities, chronic or mental illness, substance dependence, or ageing-related conditions.

In Australia, we’ve made progress. Through Little Dreamers, we’re supporting thousands of Young Carers each year, and the new National Carer Strategy has finally acknowledged this group at a federal level. But we still have a long way to go.

There’s no national framework, no standardised assessment process, and no clear accountability across government and services to ensure Young Carers are supported. My Fellowship seeks to understand what best practice support for Young Carers looks like and how we get there. 

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be visiting and learning from global leaders in Young Carer policy, research, and program delivery:

• Chapel Hill, North Carolina (24 May–10 June) with Professor Elizabeth (Betsy) Olson at the University of North Carolina, whose research explores youth caregiving through an equity lens.
• Boca Raton, Florida (10–13 June) with Connie Siskowski and the American Association of Caregiving Youth, pioneers of school-based support for Young Carers.
• Manchester, UK (14–21 June) with Professor Saul Becker at Manchester Metropolitan University, a trailblazer in Young Carer research and the architect of the UK’s legislative recognition of Young Carers, and a range of other Northern England service providers.
• London, UK (21 June–6 July) with Andy McGowan and the Carers Trust team and several London-based government and Young Carer support services, exploring cross-sector coordination and the implementation of national Young Carer assessments.

I’ll also attend the UK Young Carers Festival, where hundreds of Young Carers unite for celebration, advocacy and visibility. I can’t wait to see it in action.

My Fellowship focuses on five key questions:

1. Who is responsible for identifying and supporting Young Carers?
2. What does a trauma-informed, best-practice intake and support model look like?
3. How can we create cross-sector accountability across health, education, and social services?
4. What policy shifts and advocacy tools have driven change overseas?
5. How can we ensure equity, particularly for rural and marginalised Young Carers?

I’m especially interested in the “how” – how change happens, how systems collaborate, how we engage Young Carers in co-design, and how we ensure that support is sustainable, ethical, and child-centred.

I am so grateful to the Winston Churchill Trust for this opportunity, but this is more than a study tour. It’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding, strengthen our systems, and ensure Young Carers in Australia don’t fall through the cracks.

At Little Dreamers, we believe Young Carers are young people first. They deserve the same opportunities, well-being, and freedom as their peers, and it’s our job to make that possible.

Throughout my travels, I’ll share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments on our Instagram and LinkedIn. Keep an eye out for blog posts from each city, including key lessons, unexpected discoveries, and inspiring stories.

If this work moves you, please consider supporting us. Every donation helps us reach more Young Carers through programs that empower, protect and uplift.

Little Dreamers is in good hands while I’m away, and we’re only getting stronger. Let’s build the future that Young Carers deserve.

Written by Madeleine Buchner OAM