Young carer advisors co-design self-care water bottles

Published Feb 28 2024

Carer Gateway, working in collaboration with Little Dreamers and Satellite Foundation, have been working on an exciting project for FaPMI (Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness).

The three organisations were tasked to develop a new young carer resource for FaPMI’s ‘Family Care Bag’- a bag containing resources to support family members and the parent experiencing mental illness.

Six young carer advisors collaborated with community engagement staff from the three organisations to co-design the young carer resource. These advisors were both clear and passionate in their commitment to creating a resource that is not only meaningful but also useful and empowering for their fellow young carers. Through these discussions, the working group landed on the idea of a water bottle to encourage young carers the practice of self-care.

In the resource planning meetings, the young carer advisors created mood boards, sketches and even an epic playlist to support the creative process. They decided on a solid-coloured Frank Green bottle with white engraved illustrations featuring the text “it’s okay to not be okay” encircling the bottom of the bottle.

The working group provided young carers with the opportunity to get creative and connect with their peers to develop a worthwhile resource for their counterparts. This project displayed the importance of valuing lived experience and empowering young carers to have their voices heard.