Carers Australia has collated an extensive list of resource materials found below.
These materials have been sourced nationally and internationally. They are for use by people who are supporting, or want to support, young carers in secondary schools. This may include school administrators, teachers, counsellors, support workers, parents and guardians.
Each of the resources outlined below contains a synopsis, as well as contact details of the resource providers.
If you would like to comment or ask questions about these resources please contact us via email.
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Resource list for secondary schools supporting young carers
Australia Canada United States Ireland United Kingdom
Australia
Supporting Young Carers in Secondary Schools Carers Australia Phone: (02) 6122 9900 E-mail: caa@carersaustralia.com.au Websites: |
An 8-page booklet aimed at secondary schools in Australia. It includes case studies, definitions and statistics. There are suggestions on what teachers and other staff in schools can do to assist young carers, such as provide flexible learning, access to telephones, computers and the internet, raising awareness among both students and staff, and introducing into the school curriculum learning activities about the caring role. There is a list of contacts for where school staff can go for further assistance.
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Making Education Work for Young Carers Cyclops ACT - Anglicare Australia (2005) Phone: (02) 6278 8444 E-mail: cyclops@anglicarecg.org.au Website: www.cyclopsact.org |
An information resource aimed at teachers and student welfare workers to: 1) Support young carers to continue in education to their aspired level. 2) Identify the challenges young carers face in pursuing a formal education while attending to their caring tasks. 3) Reduce some of the challenges teachers have in identifying, understanding and assisting young carers. The pack was produced as a result of the feedback provided by 139 teachers surveyed during the Cyclops ACT Making Education Work for Young Carers project in 2004-'05, and 46 young carers who were interviewed during this time. Key sections:
The resource has guidelines for setting up a support group and includes five sample session plans (below). There are also ideas for 'ice-breaker' activities.
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Identifying and supporting Young Carers NSW Government - Family and Community Services: Ageing, Disability and Home Care (2011) Phone: (02) 9377 6000 E-mail: servicembx@facs.nsw.gov.au |
There are two components to this resource: 1) An e-learning module available here; and 2) A document titled ‘Identifying and supporting young carers: a guide for service providers’ available here. The resource is aimed at professionals in NSW to assist them in identifying and supporting young carers they may come into contact with. The e-learning module takes approximately 30-minutes to complete. A certificate of completion can be printed out at the end of the module. There is video content, quizzes, and links to further information. Key sections of the e-learning module include:
The key sections of the 16-page document 'Identifying and Supporting Young Carers: A Guide for Service Providers' are:
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Young Carers in Education Carers SA (2010) Phone: (08) 8291 5600 E-mail: info@carers-sa.asn.au Website: www.carers-sa.asn.au/ |
A 23-page booklet aimed at schools in South Australia. It contains case studies, quotes, definitions and statistics.
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Young Carers in Education: Supporting Rural and Remote Young Carers Produced by Carers SA on behalf of Carers Australia (2011) Phone: (02) 6122 9900 E-mail: caa@carersaustralia.com.au Websites: |
A 23-page booklet aimed at schools in rural and remote Australia. It contains case studies, quotes, definitions and statistics.
Key sections:
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Carers Victoria website and resources relevant to young carers in secondary school Phone: (03) 9396 9500 E-mail: reception@carersvictoria.org.au Website: www.carersvictoria.org.au |
Carers Victoria has a section of its website aimed at teachers of young carers. This web page has information on ‘How do I identify young carers?’, ‘What can I do to help?’, ‘What do I ask’, and a number of resources available for order. Resources include:
The ‘We care’ publication is a 44-page booklet produced by Carers Victoria in 2013. It includes stories from young carers aged between 12 to 20 years old which describe what it means to the young person to be a carer, the impacts of being a young carer, and what and who has helped their situation. The ‘Young carer survival kit’ was produced by Carers Victoria in 2011. The kit is intended to be used by skilled workers trained in youth work and group facilitation as a starting point for conversations with young people about the caring role, challenges and strengths of caring, and to prompt discussions that may lead to greater reflection, understanding, and strategies for young people to draw upon. The kit can be used with individuals or groups, and gives young carers the opportunity to evaluate activities. The ‘Just care for us: supporting young carers’ DVD was produced in 2006 by Carers Victoria in association with Fran Haarsma Productions. It features five young carers talking about their caring responsibilities in relation to schooling and education, health and wellbeing, leisure and fun, friends and their future. The DVD aims to raise awareness of young carers and offers strategies to support them. |
Young Carers Manual: A Manual for Service Providers Who Work with or Plan to Work with Young Carers Carers WA (2007) Phone: (08) 9228 7401 E-mail: info@carerswa.asn.au Website: www.carerswa.asn.au/ |
A 60-page booklet aimed at organisations, community groups and service providers who work with, or plan to work with young carers in Western Australia. Although there is no specific information for schools, much of the information is applicable and can be adapted.
Key sections:
Forms and templates:
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Young Carers WA website and Young Carer Aware Schools criteria Carers WA Phone: (08) 9228 7412 E-mail: info@carerswa.asn.au Website: www.youngcarerswa.asn.au |
The Young Carers WA website includes a section with information for teachers and schools in Western Australia. Content includes:
There is a checklist available for download called the Young Carer Aware Schools Criteria, where the aim is for schools to satisfy certain criteria to be recognised as a ‘Young Carer Aware School’. The Principal of the school signs the declaration and it is sent to Carers WA to be processed. The checklist incorporates Western Australian College of Teachers Professional Standards (2009). The website has a form for schools to refer a young carer who is one of their students to Carers WA. |
Canada
Curriculum Guide for the film 'Ending Silence' - a documentary on Youth Caregiving Dan Vaillancourt, Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society Phone: 057 932 2920 E-mail: dan@familycarergiverssupport.org Website: www.cowichanyoungcarers.org |
The resource is aimed at middle schools and high schools. Teachers are able to use the resource to guide their lessons and there are handouts and activities that can be photocopied.
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United States
AFA Teens - Alzheimer's Foundation of America Phone: 1866 232 8484 E-mail: jburke@alzfdn.org Website: www.afateens.org |
This resource offers teenagers the opportunity to get involved through AFA Teens chapters across the country. Chapters are youth-led, activity-based offshoots of AFA that groom tomorrow's leaders, engage teens in grassroots efforts to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and volunteer in their communities, and educate and support teens and their families who are affected by the brain disorder. There is a one-time sensitive opportunity that is available as part of the AFA Teens Skype Support group. This free, confidential support group is facilitated by licensed social workers and offers teenagers the chance to meet other teenagers in a caregiver role, share caregiving tips and skills, and learn how to cope with life as a caregiver. In addition to the opportunity to start a local chapter, AFA Teens provides students with many other ways to stay engaged in the cause and support their peers through interactive, creative and educational means. For example:
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American Association of Caregiving Youth. Caregiving Youth Project Phone: 561 391 7401 E-mail: info@aacy.org Websites: |
The American Association of Caregiving Youth’s ‘Caregiving Youth Project’ has been operating in schools in Palm Beach County, Florida since 2006. In 2014, there are plans to roll-out the program more widely in middle and high schools across the United States with the collaboration of the Department of Education. The program serves more than 350 caregiving youth and their families in 8 middle schools and 17 high schools. The program is primarily funded by private philanthropy. The main activities of the project are:
There are a number of videos on young carers in school settings available on the website. |
Ireland
Young Carers Ireland website The Carers Association Ireland Phone: 057 932 2920 E-mail: info@youngcarers.ie Website: www.youngcarers.ie/ |
The Young Carers Ireland website has a section with information for schools and teachers in Ireland. This includes:
Materials:
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United Kingdom
A Resource Pack for People Working with Young Carers David Uffindall, Tacade. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers (2006) Phone: 0844 800 4361 E-mail: info@carers.org Website: www.youngcarers.net |
This pack has been developed for use by primary and secondary schools and Young Carer Workers who go into schools to work with students and staff to raise awareness and develop understanding about: 1. How young carers are defined. 2. The particular needs of young carers and how these may be met. 3. Increasing acceptance/reducing stigma in schools of the need to care for people with mental health, substance misuse and disability issues. As part of this resource there is a CD-ROM for assembly PowerPoint presentations: ‘In Other People’s Shoes’, ‘One of a Team’, ‘Who are we? What are our needs?’ Key sections:
There are 5 lessons that can be facilitated with students aged 7-16 years:
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Action for Young Carer’s Teachers Guide Action for Young Carers – Carers Federation Phone: 01159 629 310 E-mail: info@carersfederation.co.uk Website: |
This resource is aimed at primary and secondary schools in Nottingham in the United Kingdom. The pack is intended to assist school staff in delivering age appropriate exercises to raise awareness of young carer issues. There is a form that schools can use to evaluate the resource.
Key sections:
There are five activities that can be done with students:
The pack also contains an award-winning DVD (Bang Film Festival 2008) made with the help of young carers, which explores the impacts of caring. |
Doing the right thing well in schools - a good practice guide for working with young carers in schools The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Scottish Young Carers Service Alliance Phone: 0844 800 4361 E-mail: info@carers.org Website: http://static.carers.org/files/prt-schools-guide-1-4025.pdf |
This resource describes how young carer projects work with teachers and other school staff. It sets out ways in which young carer staff can approach and build relationships with schools and recommends piloting projects, giving examples of such projects. There is a list of what works/what doesn’t work in terms of linking in with schools.
The resources gives information on practical ideas for:
There are examples of a Young Carers Charter for Action and Code of Practice for Working in Secondary Schools. |
Supporting Young Carers: A resource for schools The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children’s Society (2010) Phone: 0844 800 4361 E-mail: info@carers.org Website: www.professionals.carers.org |
This is a resource aimed at both primary and secondary school staff in the United Kingdom and includes: models and frameworks; tools for developing policies; checklists; stories, case studies and scenarios; practical ideas for supporting young carers; key resources and further reading. Key sections:
Models:
Checklists and forms:
Promotional materials:
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Include Programme The Children’s Society Phone: 020 7841 4400 E-mail: supportercare@childrenssociety.org.uk Website: www.youngcarer.com |
The Children’s Society’s Include Programme has a number of resources for young carers, their families, and professionals who support them.
'Young Carers Notice Board: Has Your School Got One Yet?': the pack includes a poster for family/pupil display, a poster for staff room display, youngcarer.com web-cards, youngcarers.net web-cards, a website resources list, and an information leaflet for education staff. There are other guides that are of relevance for professionals supporting young carers, such as 'Supporting Pupils With Substance Misusing Parents', 'Supporting Children Who Have a Parent With a Mental Illness', 'Supporting Refugee Young Carers and Their Families', and 'Working With Young Carers in Trouble With The Law: Focusing on Young Carers. A DVD Pack, 'Listening to Young Carers: A Tool for Those Working With Young Carers and Their Families' is also available to order from the website. |
Supporting Young Carers in Secondary Schools: Resource Pack Marilyn Hodsdon, Senior Young Carers Schools Workers, Carers Lewisham (2011) Phone: 020 8699 8686 E-mail: info@carerslewisham.org.uk Website: |
This resource is aimed at secondary schools in Lewisham in the United Kingdom. It has been prepared for use in schools by way of lessons with students to raise awareness of the caring role and where to seek information and support. By teachers delivering the lessons, it is also an opportunity for them to learn more about young carers.
There is also a Lewisham Schools Young Carers Charter Invitation, with information on what school scan do to support young carers and the services on offer from Young Carers Lewisham. There is further information at the back of the resource:
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Young Carers e-learning module Department of Health, Department of Education, and National Young Carers Coalition Phone: 0370 000 2288 Enquiry form: www.education.gov.uk Website: www.childrenssociety.org.uk |
This is an online module to be used by school staff in the United Kingdom to increase their awareness of young carers in schools. The resource takes approximately 40 minutes to complete.
It is an interactive resource with quizzes, quotes from young carers and videos of young carers describing their caring role. There are accompanying printable documents of case studies and practical actions that can be taken by different types of school staff (e.g. young carer lead/mentor, healthy schools coordinators, school governors, classroom teachers).
Key sections:
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Young Carers Resource Pack for Schools Dundee Young Carers Project (2007) Phone: 01382 200 422 E-mail: centre@dundeecarerscentre.org.uk Website: www.youngcarers.co.uk/ |
This resource is aimed at primary and secondary schools in Dundee in Scotland. The aim of the resource is to raise educators’ and other professionals’ awareness of young carers, their needs and how young carers can best be supported in school. There are lessons to increase students’ understanding of disability, illness and caring responsibilities. Part of the content from this resource was used and adapted from the Surrey Young Carers Project ‘Young Carers Resource Pack for Schools’. The resource materials were piloted in 2007 in a number of schools in Scotland. There is a form that schools can use to evaluate the pack. Key sections:
The following five session plans were developed for students aged 8-12 years but can be adapted for students in other years of schooling:
The following six sessions plans were developed for students in the lower secondary school range but can be adapted for students in other years:
A DVD accompanies the pack, and has the following sections:
The website has a number of other resources available, including:
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Young carer resources for secondary schools created by Surrey Young Carers Phone: (+44) 01483 568269 E-mail: syc@actionforcarers.org.uk |
For secondary schools, Surrey Young Carers has a resource pack called ‘Young But Not Carefree’ created in 2005. This includes a CD-ROM with an e-book of lesson resources which can be accessed here and a DVD with a film produced by Laurence Topham in two formats (subtitled and non-subtitled) which can be accessed here: http://vimeo.com/10445927 There is a set of six themed lessons relating to the film: 1) Young But Not Carefree: The roles and responsibilities of young carers and how caring affects their lives; 2) Foot in the Slipper: Caring for someone with a chronic illness; 3) Just a Quick Call: Communicating with empathy and how school supports its vulnerable students; 4) There’s Someone I’d Really Like You to Meet: How adults are involved in supporting young people in need; 5) Alone in a Crowd: Isolation and Solidarity; and 6) Young But Not Carefree: The Way I See it Now: Review of the film and the learning of previous lessons, and discussing expectations and perceptions. The additional resources for the themes are two ‘Challenging Moments’ games based on situations and characters in the film, a Diamond Nines activity, and student evaluation sheets. Optional activities include a list of quotes with thoughts and feelings expressed by young carers, case studies which reflect a wide range of caring experiences, exercises to encourage peer listening, useful sources of information, and lyrics from the film to prompt discussion. A resource titled ‘Young Carers Resource Pack for Schools’ was developed by Surrey Young Carers Project, Soroptimist International of Reigate and District, Surrey Education Services and Surrey schools and it can be accessed here. This resource is aimed at primary and secondary schools in Surrey in the United Kingdom. The resource aims to raise teachers' awareness of young carers and their needs, and provides some suggestions on how young carers can be supported within schools. There are lesson plans within the resource that aim to increase students' understanding of disability, illness and caring responsibilities. There is a form that schools can use to evaluate the resource. Part of the content from this resource was used and adapted by the Dundee Young Carers Project 'Young Carers Resource Pack for Schools'. Key sections:
The following six lesson plans were developed for students aged between 7 and 11 years:
The following six lesson plans were developed for students aged between 11 and 14 years.
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Young Carers Teachers Guide & Educational Resource Pack Action for Young Carers – Carers Federation (2005) Phone: 01159 629 310 E-mail: info@carersfederation.co.uk Website: www.carersfederation.co.uk |
This resource is aimed at primary and secondary schools across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. It has been prepared for use in schools by way of lessons with students to raise awareness about the caring role and where to seek information and support. The pack can be used for teacher training.
The lessons are aimed at students in early secondary school. Each lesson has background information, class activities facilitated by the teacher and conducted in small groups, case studies or role plays, quiz questions, and a lesson evaluation for students to complete. In addition to the lesson plans, there is some general information about young carers, including things they report they want support with in schools, positive steps schools can take to identify and support young carers, the primary sources of support for young carers, and young carer stories. There is a form that secondary schools can use to evaluate the pack, a list of further reading, and useful contacts. |
Young Carers Toolkit Wales – United Kingdom. Youth Friendly (2013) E-mail: admin@youthfriendly.co.uk Website: www.youngcarerstoolkit.co.uk Available in English and Welsh languages |
An online toolkit with sections of the website dedicated specifically to what schools can do to support young carers in Wales.
Key sections:
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