Twotailswines Coffs Harbour

Joyland Carers Retreat as a not-for-profit Incorporated Association raises funds for carers through annual events.  This year is no exception, with two major events organised for adult carers and another event in July specifically for young carers.

Young carers are children and young persons under 25 years of age who provide a wide range of care, assistance, physical and emotional support to another person who has one or more disabilities, intellectual or physical, mental health issues, chronic or terminal illness.

These young people often, on a regular basis, carry out significant or substantial caring tasks and are expected to mature and live with an unusual level of responsibility for their age.  Those young carers providing care for a parent may find that normal parent/child roles have been reversed.

These young carers carry out their caring tasks on top of going to school, extra curriculum and homework activities, which often affects every aspect of their lives.  Absences from school resulting in disruption to school work and social networks; being able to participate in doing normal things with peers, such as spontaneously going out with friends; difficulty ‘fitting in’ with peers, bullying and experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety are all added burdens to these young peoples lives.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2009) reported that there are approximately 104,500 young carers in New South Wales.  This represents four percent of all people aged less than 25 years in NSW. This survey did not include children under the age of 15.

To raise funds for twenty young carers (13-17-year-old) to enjoy an adventure camp for two days, we are asking businesses to donate prizes for the raffles at the organised event in July.