Making Role Reversal: from start to finish
Providing insight and ideas for parents, service providers and the community was the inspiration for Role Reversal: when your child becomes your carer.
Parents involved with Young Carers Project Brisbane South (YCP) worked together to create the booklet, which was facilitated and funded by YCP.
It includes information about topics such as receiving care from a young carer, working together, conflict, balance, change and growth, school experiences, working with teachers, bullying and dealing with healthcare professionals.
'The most important thing is that this is something the parents did themselves,' says Sarah Gleeson, a coordinator for YCP.
'It is non-judgemental. It is really about educating people.'
How it came together
The parents got together every 2 months to brainstorm ideas about a different topic for the booklet.
'It was a huge team effort,' says Jan Christison, a Brisbane mum who was involved.
'Everyone has different ways of parenting, and we had to be respectful.'
The parents developed the visual look of the booklet, modifying some images from magazines.
With an artist's touch, Shelley Heaton, a parent who was involved, sketched the cover image, as well as other images for the booklet.
Shelley has progressively lost her vision with hereditary diabetes, and is now legally blind. She draws using a magnifying glass. It is an approach she describes as ‘an interesting way to do it'.
'I'll look at parts of the picture at a time,' she says. ‘I can see the whole picture in my head. Quite often, I'll hold the magnifying glass in one hand and the tip of the pencil in the other.'
Shelley also wrote a poem that's included in the booklet, sharing her feelings about adjusting to life with disability. You can read more about Shelley's story.
Creating awareness
Jan Christison says the content is written in a simple, clear and readable format—with both print and online versions available—to make it as easy as possible for people to find what they are looking for.
Jan has chronic arthritis and is in a wheelchair. She also experiences chronic depression.
She hopes the booklet will help promote community understanding about living with disability or mental illness, as well as what it's like to receive support from a young carer.
'Even if 1 person can understand that depression is not something that you put your hand up for...' she says. You can read more about Jan's story.
The result
Margie St.Godard, another parent, recognised the members of the group had a lot to share about their experiences with receiving support from a young carer.
'I thought many people would benefit from information in a booklet,' she says.
'It was a lot of work. The challenging thing was that there are so many issues. It was wonderful for everyone to have a part.'
Margie says the final result is better than imagined.
'We didn't think it would be so good,' she says.
'It is a dream.'
You can read more about Margie's story, and the support she receives from her son, Lachlan.
Ordering a copy
Role Reversal is free. It is available on the U Factor website, and you can order a copy by contacting YCP:
Phone: (07) 3274 3655
Email: youngcarersproject@fsg.org.au.
