Rebecca

Rebecca, a young carer for her mother and her brother, sought the assistance of the Young Carers Program at Carers ACT for help with school expenses and counselling, as well as referrals to tenancy services and employment agency supports to assist her in preparing for the workforce.

Rebecca is 20. Since she can remember, Rebecca has been in a caring role for her mother, who has schizo-affective disorder, and her brother, who has autism. In her early teens, Rebecca developed an anxiety disorder. Her high school provided Rebecca with some counselling and also referred her to Carers ACT to receive supports, including case management through the Young Carers Program. From time to time, the Young Carers Program Coordinator has funded supports for Rebecca to assist her with school expenses, including school uniform, text books and fees.

Over time, it emerged that Rebecca's mother had developed a hoarding problem and that the family was facing eviction from their accommodation. The Young Carers Case Manager met with Rebecca and her mother, and with their permission subsequently sought assistance from Belconnen Community Service. Tenancy supports were put in place to address the hoarding issue. With the permission of Rebecca's mother, a referral was made by the tenancy support officer to the Partners in Recovery program to ensure that she was receiving ongoing counselling and supports for her hoarding problem and to avoid the family's eviction from their home.

Rebecca completed Year 12 and was keen to find a job. Centrelink referred her to MAX Employment. The Employment Consultant referred Rebecca to MAX Solutions for a health assessment. To help address job seeking barriers, the allied health professional recommended that Rebecca be offered counselling. It was also recommended that Rebecca participate in a series of workshops to prepare her for job interviews and workplace relationships. Rebecca was uncomfortable about using public transport to attend these appointments so, with her agreement, MAX Solutions contacted the Young Carers Program Coordinator who put some community transport arrangements in place.

The Young Carers Program Coordinator also referred Rebecca to Communities@Work who, through their Work Readiness Service, has outfitted her with a range of clothing appropriate for job interviews.