PARTNERSHIPS HELPING YOUNG CARERS
Around one in 10 people aged under 25 are young carers . We actively partnered with young carers and organisations to provide support , raise awareness and encourage more young people to get help .
What did we achieve ?
partnered with Little Dreamers for a Young Carers Festival ; and
282
In Person Peer Support sessions to
56 young carers
co-designed and launched a Young Carer Advisory Group ( YCAG )
partnered with Youth Affairs Council of Victoria ( YACVic ) to set up and run the YCAG
created and promoted a series of animated videos with young carer to raise awareness ;
80,000 + people reached
partnered with Barwon Health and young carers to develop carer TikTok videos while providing participants with volunteer work experience
launched an animated ‘ Young Carers are not alone ” video co-created with young carers
Young carers celebrate the launch of the Merri Health Young Carer Videos
INCREASING SUPPORT IN THE WEST AND NORTH
This year we expanded our Merri Health Carer Services into Western Metropolitan Melbourne and increased the number of carers we supported directly in Melbourne ’ s North , through the Victorian Government Support for Carers Program and Carer Gateway .
What did we achieve ?
expanded services into Melbourne ’ s West ; now supporting an area where
28 % of Victorian carers live
returned to full-service capacity after two years of COVID impacts
partnered with the Northern Autism Network to support activities for parents and carers
established peer support groups with Whittlesea , Nillumbik and Banyule Councils
launched the Queer Crew peer support group for LGBTQIA + carers in partnership Alfred Health and Uniting VicTas
107 presentations to raise awareness about carer services
marketing to reach diverse carers , including CALD , Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and young carers
Challenges
• the Support for Carers Program ( SCP ) funding was recommissioned , creating funding and planning uncertainty . Reduced funding required us to implement changes to Merri Health Carer Services in tight timelines
What ’ s next ?
• goal to support 7000 carers in Melbourne ’ s North and West next financial year
• growing our network of partners to drive referrals and carer connections
• marketing to reach ‘ hidden carers ’
• consolidating a changed structure in Carer Services following SCP funding reduction
SUPPORT FOR TIRED UNPAID CARERS , ELISE ’ S STORY
Like many other carers , Elise Davis was hesitant to seek help at first .
Her son Tarrin , 14 “ is high-functioning and is at a mainstream school and I wasn ’ t sure whether his disability was serious enough for us to be considered carers and thought that other people needed the support more .”
Elise was introduced to Carer Gateway by Different Journeys , a peer-support program empowering people with autism and their carers .
“ Carer Gateway connected me with a range of local services in our area , and they help me to look after my physical and mental health .”
“ The issues carers face are very different to the issues that other parents face . If I ’ m hanging out with other carers , I can just be myself and talk about what is really happening .”
MERRI HEALTH / ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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