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JA slide show

Supporting young people

who are major carers for their parents and siblings

The Kids Who Care Foundation Young Carers Project is a state wide program that consists of a range of support options and recreational opportunities for the primary and secondary Young Care

Young Care
How it all began

In 2000 Try Youth and Community Services teamed up with the Caring Kids Camp Planning Committee (which had previously conducted a camp for Young Carers) and worked together in planning a second Young Carers Camp.

The Planning Committee was comprised of Carolyn Smith a young woman with Multiple Sclerosis who founded the Caring Kids Camp Project, as well as representatives from the Zonta Club of Melton who had funded the first Caring Kids Camp.

After two successful camps in 2000 and 2001 the Planning Committee handed over the responsibility of continuing to conduct camps and services for young carers to Try Youth and Community Service, as it has continued to do so until the current day.

In 2002 in order to raise funds to conduct activities and when necessary provide material aid to Young Carers, the Kids Who Care Foundation was established.

The Kids Who Care Foundation has expanded the breadth and reach of the original program, incorporating the recommendations of the research undertaken in 2001 into the needs of young carers but still using camping and respite as its core activity and initial point of contact with young carers.

Try Youth and Community Services continues to recognise the important work of the Kids Who Care Foundation and the Young Carers Project which is believed to be the only program of its type operating out of the youth sector in Victoria which focuses exclusively on the needs of young people who have caring responsibilities.