26 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Who is looking out for young carers?

Latest News

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Other News

Seize the Decade report outlines benefits of renewables

The Climate Council says many more Australian families can directly benefit from rooftop solar and batteries under a new plan that spells out how we can electrify the nation and cut climate pollution this decade.

Laid-back but lively

Ooz is an acoustic roots reggae artist with a large, eclectic repertoire of crowd favourites. His unique, laid-back but lively style creates a relaxed atmosphere and his song choices have you remembering many of those forgotten classics.

Premier yet to respond to Albo’s offer of disaster recovery funds

Northern Rivers community groups are renewing calls for the NSW premier to formally ask the Commonwealth to fully fund the region's 2022 disaster recovery.

Protecting nature and naturism from prejudice in Byron Shire

A new regime of social repression is imposing itself over the Byron Shire. Supported by local conservatives, the NSW National Parks Wildlife Service is attacking diversity and a particular minority group in Byron Shire – naturists.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.

Mullum and Byron locals lock on at Ewingar State Forest

Byron Bay and Mullumbimby locals Emma Briggs and Bassi Brown locked onto machinery at Ewingar State Forest, in the Upper Clarence area, yesterday as they called for an end to native forest logging. 

Dr Myra Hamilton says that programs designed to meet young carer’s family environments and educational needs appear to be lacking. Photo supplied.

There are times when the only person able to care for someone who is ill, is that person’s child – sometimes that child is still in school and this has a huge bearing on their education.

New research shows that young Australians providing care for family members with mental illnesses, alcohol and drug addictions are struggling to keep up with their studies.

The study by Flinders University and UNSW found the problem will continue without improved flexibility in schools and personalised intervention programs.

The results of a national survey which included over 5000 children aged 8-14 identified hundreds of young carers. It compared their levels of school engagement with peers that don’t carry similar responsibilities on a daily basis.

Young carers are in desperate need of diverse forms of support to ensure their unpredictable responsibilities don’t prevent engagement at school

The study was led by Senior Research Fellow in the UNSW Social Policy Research Centre, Dr Myra Hamilton, and Flinders University College of Business, Government & Law Professor Gerry Redmond. It indicates that young carers are in desperate need of diverse forms of support to ensure their unpredictable responsibilities don’t prevent engagement at school, especially because no single experience is the same.

Professor Redmond says that previous research has shown young carers can be over a year behind their classmates in literacy and numeracy. ‘They have responsibilities which can adversely affect their life chances, health and well-being, and relationships so we need to understand why.

‘Our results show tailored programs focused on the needs of young carers are desperately needed to improve their school engagement, which is directly related to future outcomes.’

Almost 500 young carers indicated they were looking after a family member with a disability or other serious health concern, of whom a majority had responsibilities for a family member with a mental illness or using alcohol or drugs.

It’s a more difficult situation for carers of a person with a mental illness, or those using alcohol or drugs

Professor Redmond says while the engagement of a young carer for a family member with a disability or illness isn’t particularly different to that of non-carers, it’s a more difficult situation for carers of a person with a mental illness, or those using alcohol or drugs.

Dr Hamilton says despite evidence showing poorer school outcomes for these young carers and the challenges they face, programs designed to meet their specific family environment and educational needs appear to be lacking.

‘A personalised approach which includes the entire family and greater awareness and understanding of mental illness and drug or alcohol issues in schools, among teachers and students, could help make the school environment less “threatening” for young carers,’ she said.

The federal government currently deploys programs and resources to schools, which raise awareness around young carers needs amongst staff and students and support their continued education.

‘Over the last two decades, a number of countries have invested more in a range of services for young carers, including respite, information, counselling, and group and recreational activities,’ Professor Redmond says.

Redmond says while the current policies may be making a positive difference, the results in this study show more needs to be done.

Are young carers less engaged in school than non-carers? Evidence from a representative Australian study is available here.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

1 COMMENT

  1. Interesting that you publish this article, as I actually can’t find a ‘young carers support group’ in this area for a local young person in need right now, nor any actual supports for them at all. While this article primarily talks of young carers under 14, there are many young people under 24 caring for a parent, and they are sadly literally left to their own devices, and given very little support, particularly those who have left school, or are above high school age. There are actually NO support groups whatsoever listed for Byron on the Carers NSW website.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.