By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
It’s a tough enough job for an adult, let alone a 16-year-old.
But Geelong children as young as eight are being pressed into service as carers when disaster strikes families.
Corio teen Bee Norman has known the pressures of taking on adult responsibilities and being forced to grow up fast since she was 13.
Both her parents have mental health issues, plus her father works two jobs to make ends meet.
Her mum suffers ongoing physical pain and can only work a couple of hours at a time but the real issue is her obsessive compulsive disorder.
“I get very tired,” Bee answered succinctly when asked how it affected her.
“Sometimes I have to take days off from school because I’m so tired.
“Life has changed completely in just three years. So much can happen in a short time,” the teenager said.
“I look at other teens doing whatever they want and I wonder how they can do that. I rarely get out.”
Because of mum’s OCD, life runs to strict routine, planning and scheduling.
Besides cooking dinner nightly, doing some tidying and washing, Bee spends all of Saturday cleaning house.
The family tried getting home help, but only Bee knew how to manage the house to keep her mum’s OCD at bay.
“I know how she wants it done, so it’s easier for me to just do it rather than go through all the hassle of trying to get someone else to understand,” Bee said.
With only Sunday to herself, Bee often finds herself catching up on school work.
She receives some support by seeing a psychologist but the Young Carers program run by Barwon Health is her greatest source of help.
“It helps a lot to speak to others in the same situation, some are as young as eight others are older,” Bee said.
Bluebird Foundation’s Bron Lawson said Victoria had an estimated 104,000 young carers and that young people up to the age of 25 were providing unpaid care for a family member.
“Caring responsibilities can have positives as young carers are often independent, capable people with strong family relationships.
“However, they’re also at risk of social isolation, poor health and dropping out of school.”
Bron said few young carers knew about the support available, such as the Young Carer program.
The Bluebird Foundation was the catalyst behind a group of young carers working on an art project called Cubed to raise awareness among schools, youth organisations and health professionals.
Under the guidance of local artist Jenna Ramondo, the carers have created a series of images telling their story for a street art installation and a package of posters and 3D cubes to be distributed to schools and youth services throughout the Barwon region.
“Art can be such an effective tool to raise awareness about important issues,” Ms Lawson said.
“One image can tell a story and move people in a powerful way.”
