Recommendation 32

What the Royal Commission said

The Royal Commission called on the Victorian Government to expand the range of supports for young carers and children and young people with a family member or parent experiencing mental illness or psychological distress.

This included funding a non-government organisation such as the Satellite Foundation to co-design and expand the range of supports across Victoria.

The Royal Commission said the Victorian Government should broaden the scope and reach of the Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness program, including by:

• enabling each Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service to employ new workers to support young carers in their local environment; and
• increasing the funding available to young carers to help with practical needs (brokerage).

The Royal Commission also called on the Victorian Government to strengthen identification and referral pathways for young carers through the mental health and education systems.

What we’ve achieved

The Satellite Foundation

• Funding has been provided to the Satellite Foundation to expand the range of programs and supports offered to young people with caring responsibilities.
• The Foundation offers tailored information, support, and peer connection for young people through online and face-to-face programs. These include art and music workshops, respite activities and camps.
• Pilot programs have been delivered in several Victorian schools to raise awareness of young people with caring and support responsibilities. The programs encourage conversations about mental illness, substance use and addiction and the impacts on the mental health of young carers and families.
• Read the Young People with Caring Responsibilities: Time for Action report on the Satellite Foundation website

Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) program

• The Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) program has been broadened within Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services. This includes the establishment of new community workers for children and young people and increased funding to the FaPMI brokerage program.
• These initiatives enable a broader range programs and supports for young people with caring responsibilities, including to address financial barriers.

Referral pathways

• Work to strengthen identification and referral pathways for young carers through the education system has been delivered by the Department of Education.

What we’re doing

The Satellite Foundation

The Satellite Foundation service model continues to evolve by:

• increasing access to individual counselling for young carers
• strengthening key service delivery partnerships, including with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres and other youth services
• engaging graduates of the Foundation’s flagship programs to be involved in the design and delivery of the service
• supporting young carers to attend and present at conferences.

Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) program

• The Department of Health commissioned The Bouverie Centre and Satellite Foundation to research the gaps and opportunities within the education, mental health and alcohol and other drugs systems to strengthen identification and referral pathways for young carers.