An outing to the Olympic Ice Skating Centre in South Oakleigh was a school holiday highlight for a group of young carers from metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Twenty-three young people, including two from Warrnambool and three from Melton, met with TRY Youth and Community Services Young Carers Project workers at Footscray and Southern Cross Station and travelled by bus to South Oakleigh for the 'icecapade.'

The Young Carers Project is a statewide program for young people who have a major caring responsibility within their household.

It provides a range of support services and recreational opportunities for about 90 teens—some of whom are primary carers—with a family member who has an illness, disability, drug or alcohol problem or mental heath issue.

The main component of the young carer project is a week long camp at Anglesea Recreation Reserve along the Great Ocean Road held in the January holidays.

This camp is based on a peer support and recreation model that provides young carers aged between 12–16 with a break that focuses on 'relaxing, having fun and making friends.'

The camp also helps reduce isolation as young carers share similar experiences and stories of their caring roles.

Throughout the year, TRY Young Carer Project Worker Hanna Maxwell keeps young carers in touch and connected through newsletters and activity days.

The newsletters allow young carers to catch up on what is happening in their regions while activity days are a great chance to reunite with friends made on summer camp.

Try Youth and Community Services is a not-for-profit, non-denominational organisation that conducts or sponsors youth and community service programs throughout Victoria.

The carers camp is funded by trusts, foundations and donations.

•          Preparations have begun for Young Carers camp in January and people who work with families that include young carers can contact Hanna Maxwell at Try Youth on 9347 2655 or hannamaxwell@tryyouth.org.au.