Tier
Tier 1: Positive Mental Health Promotion
Program Description
The Young Carer Project aims to support young carers to complete secondary school by increasing inclusion in the school environment. This program has a whole school approach and involves three key groups: young carers, school staff, peers, and the school community.
The goal of this project is to improve:
• Young carers' educational and personal skills
• A schools' ability to better support young carers to complete school by greater awareness of their challenges and needs.
The model works by engaging key staff, young carers and the school community to embed the program and impacts in the school.
Detailed Cost
The program costs $11,000 (inc. GST) per school.
The Young Carer Project is a set price per school irrespective of the number of attendees/participants. Travel of facilitators to and from the school is not included in the cost of the program and will be supplied by Little Dreamers. Little Dreamers has a scholarship program for schools in lower socio-economic areas with a high rate of Young Carers who would like to engage in this program.
Implementation Considerations
Target population: Young carers who care for a parent or sibling with a chronic illness, mental illness, disability, or drug/alcohol addiction, school staff and the wider school community (peers).
Program adaptability: The program can be adapted for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background students.
Staffing: Backfilling may be required.
Training requirements: Key teachers and wellbeing staff will attend a 3-hour online or in-person training session as well as completing three online modules that take approximately 20 minutes each. Staff not participating in this training can complete six modules online. Computer or laptop access is needed for staff completing modules. There is a full-day in-person cohort-specific development session for Young Carers.
Factors to consider: There is a minimum of 3 Teacher Champions and 5 Young Carers per school to participate in the program. The program provides ongoing free support for up to a year after completion of the program.
Australian context: The program has been developed, evaluated and applied in Australia.
Strength of Evidence
Level 3: Foundational and emerging evidence for program
Geographic Location
State-wide
Intended Outcomes
• More Young Carers are identified and connected with other Young Carers
• Young Carers have improved attitudes to education, attendance, and access to specific education supports
• Young Carers feel more supported
• Young Carers get bullied less
• More Young Carers successfully move into secondary pathways and complete secondary education
• Schools staff and school communities are more aware of available support for Young Carers
• School staff are empowered and feel confident to have discussions with Young Carers and families and raise awareness
• Parents feel more supported by the school community