Are you 25 years old or under?
Do you provide unpaid support and care for someone in your family?
The person you care for might be a parent, sibling, grandparent, another relative, or maybe even a friend. You may help out with cleaning, cooking, giving medicine, with therapy or medical appointments, or you may help keep the person safe or be watching out for them to make sure they 'feel okay'.
Young carers are children and young people up to 25 years of age who help care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental health issue or who has an alcohol or other substance abuse problem. They are often the invisible carers in our community and can be especially vulnerable.
Across Australia, over 380 000 children and young people help care for their relatives.
Young people who care from diverse and cultural backgrounds
Do you or does your child/grandchild attend doctors, or other appointments, and fill out forms? Do they have to be the interpreter because it's hard to understand English very well? Our staff can arrange Interpreters if they are needed.
In the community, the Telephone Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 can assist in languages such as Arabic, Chinese and Mandarin. Many resources and fact sheets are translated into other languages. (Link to these or add in address MCH)
Services available in the community for various language groups can also provide different types of support and may be useful for your family. It is good to have all family members involved, but we need to support them as well.
REACH – a Call for Medical Response
Is your family member in hospital? Are you worried about a deterioration in their current medical condition?
Our hospitals respond to requests from family members for a “Clinical Review".
Ask the nurse to help you make a REACH call or if there is a phone by the bedside you may call 9 for our switchboard who will direct your call. At home call 000 for an ambulance.
Other Information and Assistance
Young Carers Program Australia
The Carers NSW Young Carer Program was developed to make a positive difference to young carers and their families. If you are a young carer, this is a free service that can support you! The Young Carer Program supports and connects young carers through:
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Emotional support
– The Young Carer Team are available to listen, offer support or chat. You can call us on 1800 242 636 (9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday)
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Information & Referrals – Get linked in with practical supports that meet your needs e.g. respite, camps, activity days, tutoring and much more.
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Counselling – Individual or group counselling is available face to face in your local area or over the phone.
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An Interactive Young Carer Website – Check out our online community and wide range of on-line resources for young carers!
For more details
Call: 1800 242 636 (9am – 5pm // Monday – Friday) (Free call except from mobiles)
Website: https://www.youngcarersnsw.org.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoungCarersatCarersNSW/
Kids Helpline
The Kids Help Line is a private and confidential telephone and online counselling service dedicated to help children and young adults. You can speak with Kidsline about carer stress, or other issues ranging from relationship breakdown and bullying to sexual abuse, homelessness, suicidal thoughts, depression and drug and alcohol usage. The helpline service receives more than one million calls per year. Kids Helpline is available 24/7 every day of the year.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
Email counselling: counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au
Web chat:
1800 55 1800
https://kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/email-counselling/
Lifeline
Lifeline Text 0477 131 114 (from 6pm till midnight 7 days per week)
Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Phone: 131 114
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline provides a confidential telephone crisis support service available 24/7 from a landline, payphone or mobile.
Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can contact Lifeline. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation our trained volunteers are ready to listen, provide support and referrals.
Youth Law Australia is a community legal service that is dedicated to helping children and young people in Australia and their supporters to find a legal solution to their problems.
Phone: (02) 9385 9588 Monday-Friday 9:30-5pm
Other Sources of Information & Assistance
Multicultural website for translated resources:
Parenting websites:
Contact Carer Support: Tel: 02 9462 9488
