Laura Fillisch from Hobart is 17 and she’s been caring for her mum, who suffers from bipolar disorder, for as long as she can remember.
Listen to Laura’s story which was created as part of the Heywire program
Caring for your family is often just what we take on as a caring son, daughter, sister or grandchild, but you might not realise there’s support they you can access if that care is a big part of your life.
Living in regional Australia can pose a lot of challenges, isolation, a lack of services, travelling for school, even just boredom.
Add caring for a relative into the mix and all those challenges can increase by ten-fold.
Laura Fillisch from Hobart is 17 and she’s been caring for her mum, who suffers from bipolar disorder, for as long as she can remember.
“It can be pretty difficult sometimes to have to get up, make sure my sisters’ lunch is all done, make sure everybody is awake, make sure mum’s had her medication, then try and do my homework, do dinner and make sure everything gets done.
“I go to her appointments with her, give emotional support, help cook dinner, remind her of her medication, make sure she’s all happy and healthy.
“It can be hard to recognise yourself as a young carer, you just think you’re a child of someone who’s sick, you don’t think of yourself being any more than that.”
Laura says another pressure on a young carer is a lack of understanding in the broader community, especially around mental health.
“It can be very hard explaining what mental illness is, what bipolar is, and really what it has to do with my life.
“If more people recognised young carers without the stigma, it would be a lot easier.”
Cassie Hosking, from the young carers respite program, which is funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, says identifying young carers is the first challenge.
“Young carers can be quite hidden, they’re difficult to find in the community because, I guess they see their lives and themselves as being normal.
“They don’t see that maybe they’re taking on extra responsibility, they don’t realise there’s help out there for them.”
Cassie says there are lots of services to lighten the load for carers.
“Our main aim is to keep them continuing with their education, we can provide them with in-home support, financial support and social activities, so they can meet other people in a similar situation.”
She says carers in regional areas can be even harder to find.
“It is difficult to get out into rural areas and get the message out to carers, we try our hardest, but more promotion is needed, so that more young carers can get in touch with services.”
If you know an impressive young person, then they are probably a good candidate for the ABC Heywire competition.
Heywire asks young people to tell their story using their creative skills and gives them the opportunity to share their concerns about regional Australia with Federal politicians and like-minded young Aussies.
The competition closes on the 19th of September – submit your story now!
Also check the related topics:
Young carersSpeaking to someone about your problems can be the first steps to a solution.
