What support is available

Carer Gateway provides free support for young people who are in caring roles.

Short term counselling
Coaching
Planned and emergency respite
Peer support and social connection
Practical assistance
Service navigation

Eligibility

A student can receive support if they

• Provide unpaid care for a family member with disability, chronic illness, mental health concerns or frail due to age

• Are any age!

They do not need to be the primary carer in the family and their caring role may be minimal.

How to refer

Referrals can be made by:

• Phone Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737

• Complete an online referral Carer Gateway - Make a Referral

Family Foundations Trial

My name is Le Ann, I am a Maternal and Child Health Nurse and part of the Family Foundations team at Deakin University.

We are advising Seymour College about a study we are working on looking at different ways to strengthen and support families in coping with stress affected or placed at risk by natural disasters such as floods or bushfires.

We are inviting families who live in rural and regional areas with children 0-12 years to participate in the study.

If you’d like to read more, here’s the link to the project page:

https://seed.deakin.edu.au/our-research/project/family-foundations-trial/

Art Competition

Calling all young carers!

We’ve got some exciting news.From 2 March to 31 July 2026, Carer Gateway is running the Young Carer Art Competition, and there are some huge prizes up for grabs.Create a drawing, painting, photograph or other artwork on paper or canvas inspired by the theme ‘Your Art, Your Voice’. The best entries will be showcased at a Young Carer Art

Exhibition later in the year.

How to Enter:

Register with Carer Gateway for free: Call 1800 422 737 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm) to start the registration process. Our Carer Gateway team will discuss how we can support your caring role.
Submit your artwork: Take a photo of your artwork and email it to CGcarerengagement@holstephealth.org.au, along with a short paragraph explaining your piece, before July 31st.

Who can enter: The competition is open to young carers aged 25 or under who care for a family member, friend or loved one, even if it’s only for a few hours a week. If this applies to someone you know - tell them to get involved!

How to win a prize: We’re taking submissions from all young carers, but if you want to be in the running to win a prize you will need to be registered with Carer Gateway (it’s free!).

The competition is open across three age groups:

12 and under
13–18 years
19–25 years

Prizes for each age group:

1st prize: $500
2nd prize: $250
3rd prize: $100

Important Dates:

Competition closes: 31 July 2026
Winners announced: 31 August 2026

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Please note: You must be registered with Carer Gateway by 14 August to be eligible for prizes. Our team will contact you to understand your caring role and tailor free support just for you.

Not sure if you a young carer? Click here to find out more!

Whether you care for a family member or friend every day or just a few hours a week, you’re not alone. Carer Gateway offers free emotional, practical, and mental health support to help you. Call 1800 422 727 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm) or visit carergateway.gov.au.

Easing into Adolescence Resources

The Department of Education have launched the Easing into adolescence: resources for families webpage for families of students aged 10 to 14 years (Grade 5 to Year 8).

The webpage has information and strategies parents and carers can use to help their children ease into adolescence and secondary school.

Berry Street

My name is Trinity, and I have recently joined Berry Street in the Community Engagement role for Home Based Care – Hume region.

Our Story Founded in 1877, Berry Street exists to help those experiencing poverty, violence, and abuse, and to help families stay together in safe and healthy homes so they can create the future they imagine for themselves. This is what we mean by ‘believing in children, young people, families and their future’.

Our community is in urgent need of loving and supportive foster carers for local children and young people who are unable to live with their families.

The number of children in out-of-home care continues to rise year-on-year. There were 12,809 children in out-of-home care in the state as of June 30, 2021, an almost 14 per cent increase from 11,271 in 2018.

As of June 2023, the number of foster care enquiries from across the sector reached its lowest point in the last 20 years.

To respond to this rising need, we are working to engage with the community to increase awareness of foster care and the growing need for Foster Carers in our region.  

Please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0482 160 848 or tlonel@berrystreet.org.au.

Kind regards,

Trinity Lonel (she/her),

Community Engagement Worker.

Nuture Forward Parenting Group

The group will run across two sessions and aims to support parents in identifying healthy parenting practices, exploring shifts from pre to post family violence, and providing psychoeducational resources to help increase self-awareness and resilience.

Primary Mental Health Service Sites

The updated brochure is attached for your information.

Parents | No problem is too big or too small | Kids Helpline

Information and resources for parents that can help with communication and relationship issues. See how Kids Helpline can help your child and learn about the support options we have for parents.

kidshelpline.com.au

Our Place

Everyone is welcome at the Family & Children’s Centre