Young carers are children or young people who help care for a family member or friend who has a chronic or terminal illness, or disability, or mental illness, or alcohol/drug issue, or who is frail. Young carers usually have more responsibilities in their households than their peers, and their caring role can have a significant impact on their social interactions, emotional and physical health, schooling and their ability to provide ongoing care in the family.
The Young Carers Project (YCP) provides support to school students who are a primary carer, and may be at risk of leaving school early because of their caring role. Young carers, family members and service providers can contact FSG Australia to arrange a time to meet with the young person and the person/s they care for to assess eligibility for support. (Services are provided free to young carers under the age of 18.)
YCP support may include the provision of:
- emergency and planned respite
- domestic assistance
- tutoring and educational support
- advocacy
- counselling
- social activities.
YCP assists young carers to access some of the same opportunities and freedoms enjoyed by their peers and works to help them continue to engage in and do well at school (or in some cases return to school).
This program is funded by Department of Social Services (DSS) and is managed by FSG Australia, which is a non-government organisation.