ROdown Blog
Looking after a loved one...
My name is Tori and I’m a young carer. I care for my 13-year-old brother who is autistic and dyspraxic. Being a young carer means that I have to look after my brother when my parents can’t and help out a little more than usual to make sure that he’s fed and clean as well as clean up the messes he makes around the house.
Other young carers I’ve met look after other members of their family such as a parent, sibling or grandparent and it can often be very hard on them emotionally and physically. When schools or other facilities don’t recognise young carers for what they do it can be frustrating and hurtful as well as stressful to the young carer and so one of the aims of the many young carer action groups is to raise awareness of young carers in these places as well as the general public.
Carers Week (this week) is an event that aims to recognise carers (and young carers) for everything that they do to contribute to the community. It’s also a time when carers can celebrate themselves as carers and even the person or people that they care for. Many carers are not recognised or celebrated for the amazing work they do so Carers Week is especially important in letting them know that their work is indeed wonderful and that they are appreciated.
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8 Comments
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anna
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportHey Tori,
Thanks so much for sharing this with Reach Out and all of us - and for working hard to help other young carers be better understood by schools etc - the work you do is invaluable and really inspirational to all of us reading it - so thanks! Anna
Bella.
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportHey Tori,
Ophelia.L
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI found this story, quite emotional in some way, like don't get me wrong, it really does inspire & amaze me to see how young people sacrifice a lot of their teens social life, to look after their loved ones.
NadineF
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportThanks so much for this Tori. Hopefully through your blog and the others this week, we can contribute to raising the awareness for young carers like yourself and the valuable contributions you make.
Alphabet
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportThank you for sharing your story. Im amazed by the strength, courage and hope that you and other young carers display, its inspirational!
Becks
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportThank you for sharing your story Tori. You are amazing. What you do has so much strength and courage attached to it. You should be really proud of yourself. Thank you once again. =)
Atari - Inspire Crew
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportGreat post!
@Tori (and everybody else!) are there any special activities happening in your area for Carers week?
I was in Canberra yesterday for the launch where they also had a fantastic exhibition up about carers across Australia called 'Face of Care'.
Chey
over 2 years ago
Reply Report@Tori,thank you heaps Girly for sharing your story with us all to read,what you do is amazing and your family and Brother are lucky to have a caring,compassoniate and understanding girl like you in the family,I know at times it can get hard but well done on helping out.I hope Careers week will prompt the work in which you and so many others do,I know from personal experience how hard it can get,But the love for that person helps you through.
Well done and thanks