Date submitted

25/7/02

Title

Young Carer Camps (part of Young Carer Project, NSW)

Contact Person/s

Daryn Elston-Smith  Cheri McMaster   

Organisation

Carers NSW Inc

Address

Level 17, 323 Castlereagh Street
 Sydney

State

NSW  2000  Australia

Phone

02 9280 4744     

Email

yc@carersnsw.asn.au

Fax

02 9280 4755

Program Description

Carers NSW (CNSW) has been involved in the organisation of young carer camps since 1996.  Since 2000 the Young Carer Project has been funded by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability, Home & Community Carer, with generous assistance from various Rotary Clubs involved with the camps. 

A young carer is a child or young person, 18 years or under, (aged 8-18 years for this project) who provides support for a family member who has a disability, mental illness, or other long-term illness.  They usually have more responsibilities than other young people their age.  The young carers most at risk are those caring for parents, particularly sole parents. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (1998) estimates that there are 181,000 Australian children below the age of 18 who provide care to a family member who has a long-term illness or disability.  Approximately 30% of these young people live in NSW.   

Approximately 30% of young carers attending our camps have a parent with a mental illness. 

YOUNG CARER CAMPS AIM TO:

1) Provide campers with a positive experience in a friendly, different, yet supportive and caring environment;

2) Assist young carers to gain confidence, increase self-esteem and develop skills to deal with everyday issues that relate to caring responsibilities;

3) Create an awareness of how young carers can fulfil some of their emotional needs through support of each other;

4) Enable young carers to share their experiences and raise issues of concern with peers and leaders;

5) Provide opportunities for young carers to liaise with professionals in an informal setting;

6) Provide a time for responsible freedom. 

Currently CNSW provide two state-wide camps per year, for young carers living in NSW.  The camps are provided for the age range of 8-12yrs old or 13-18yrs old, with 50-60 young carers attending each camp.

Evaluation

Self-reports by child, parent and camp leaders provide qualitative and quantative data.  Statistically and clinically significant improvements have been recorded by the life skills measures. 

Evaluation Reports:

1) Matthey, S. (2000).  Evaluation of Carers NSW Young Carer Project (includes Apr 2000 camp).  South West Sydney Area Health Service: Sydney, Australia.

2) Matthey, S. (2001).  Evaluation of Carers NSW Young Carer Camp: Dec 2000.  South West Sydney Area Health Service: Sydney, Australia.

3) Matthey, S. (2001).  Evaluation of Carers NSW Young Carer Camp: July 2001.  South West Sydney Area Health Service: Sydney, Australia. 

Since 1996, over 500 young carers have participated in our state-wide camps.

Evidence

Clinical experience and research, with reference to the following:

1) Carers National Association, London, UK.  (1996) Information Pack for Young Carers.

2) Newby, J. for Interchange Respite Care (NSW).  (Nov 1996).  A Report on Young Carers and their Parents in NSW.  Commonwealth Department of Health & Family Services.

3) Interchange Respite Care (NSW).  (July 1997).  Report on Young Carers and their Parents in NSW.  Commonwealth Department of Health & Family Services.

4) Carers Association of Australia Inc. (1997).  Questions of responsibility: Children & caring in Australia.  Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia.

Other information

Since 2000, CNSW has provided guidance, resources, assistance and support to a number of regions in NSW enabling these regions to develop their own local camps.  In particular the following three regions, supporting children of parents with mental illness, have worked closely with CNSW:

1) Gaining Ground Project, South Western Sydney Area Health Service

2) COPMI Project, Mid Western Area Health Service

3) South Eastern Sydney. 

CNSW produces a Young Carer Newsletter quarterly, available for young carers, their families, and interested service providers. 

CNSW also provides specific telephone group counselling programs for young carers.  This enables six young carers, from anywhere in NSW, to link with two facilitators, for a structured program over a period of 6-8 weeks. 

Please contact us for information about any of these services.