In WA, there are more than 40,000 young people providing unpaid care for a family member or friend. They generously and enthusiastically give so much of their time and energy to support the people they care for, but often their caring role takes a toll. Physical, emotional, social and financial challenges all impact their education.
Often, young carers find themselves unable to financially support their education or they find it difficult explaining their caring situation to their teachers or peers. As a result, it can be difficult to purchase the essential items they need, leaving them feeling insecure about their future and not receiving the full education experience.
Identifying this need and an opportunity to help, items were collected from September to November, through a joint project run by Rockingham Centre (Vicinity Shopping Centre) and the Lions Club of Rockingham.
The project is known as the Community Hole-In-The-Wall. Members of the community were able to donate requested items through the ‘hole in the wall’, where Carers WA was spotlighted.
Items donated included notebooks, backpacks, pens and pencils, calculators and more. Carers WA will be distributing these items to young carers in the coming weeks to help give them a head start in the new school year.
On behalf of Carers WA and the young carers we support, we extend our warmest thanks and appreciation to the Rockingham community for their generosity and the Lions Club for championing the needs of carers in our state.
About Young Carers
Becoming a carer can happen when a family member’s health and independence decline over time, or when an accident or illness suddenly occurs, leaving a young person with responsibilities that define their role as a young carer. Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members or friends with disability, mental health challenges, long term health conditions (including a chronic condition or terminal illness), an alcohol or other drug dependency, or who are frail aged.
About the Lion Club Rockingham
The Rockingham Lions Club has been serving the community since 1967.
They are a volunteer organisation comprised of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the beautiful coastal town of Rockingham, Western Australia. They are committed to fundraising and volunteering in the local community and assisting local organisations, individuals, charitable foundations and Lions International wherever help is needed.
