and Siblings
This program is essential as it is for children who bear the burden of responsibility for caring for a family member who may be suffering from a physical or intellectual disability, mental illness, chronic, severe, or terminal illness, autism or depression. It is coordinated during their school holidays with some 30-40 siblings attending. Often, unintentionally, the needs of these children are overlooked as their routine lives are intertwined with many responsibilities.
Camp Breakaway provides a range of social and sports activities that may offer new challenges, thereby giving them a chance to develop self-expression, confidence, to encourage them to gain independence, and promote a sense of self-worth
It’s an opportunity for them to have a few fun days respite in the company of peers who might have an understanding of their situation and similar lived experiences. It’s an opportunity for kids to “just to be kids” and have some fun and form friendships.
Our Camp Goals
opportunity for young carers and siblings to have fun
- Provide an opportunity for young carers and siblings to have fun in a safe, caring environment.
- Provide a range of activities that are new, challenging, exciting, and encourage self-expression.
- Give young carers and siblings the chance to meet and form friendships with others in the same situation, thus enhancing their understanding that they are not alone.
- Promote a sense of self-worth and confidence.
- Briefly enable these children to escape their home environment of care and responsibilities and allow them to be, just children.
- Provide opportunities for volunteers to work alongside these children and broaden the community awareness of the needs of young carers and siblings.
- Activities at Young Carers and Siblings camps include a bungee run, archery, Battlezone, cards, craft, disco, giant swing, movie night, sports, surfing, swimming, treasure hunt, water fights, and a water slide.
Criteria
- Young carer of a parent with a physical or mental disability or sibling of a child with high medical needs, rare disorder and or disability.
- Twenty-four children to go in the primary age group 5-12 years.
- Sixteen children to go in the teenage group 13-18 years.
- For the January camp, children going to high school are to go into the teenage group.
- Flexibility in age groupings to reflect the variability of ages in each camp.
- Children can come once a year unless in an emergency at the discretion of the coordinator.
- Where possible, to accept children from each of the following areas; Central Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Country.
- To take all siblings from one family at the same time unless the parents wish to keep one or more at home.