Tuesday, 2 June 2026

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (22:29): (2534) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Carers and Volunteers. Recently the Kensington community came together to care for our unpaid carers with an amazing lunch. It was a beautiful afternoon, but more than that it was a timely reminder of the incredible people who routinely put their lives, careers and personal needs on hold to look after the people they love. As I have said in this place before, this is something deeply personal for me. I know firsthand the profound mix of love and dedication and the immense challenge that come with the responsibility of caring for a family member. It is a round-the-clock commitment that demands physical, emotional and financial sacrifice. There are over 750,000 dedicated carers across Victoria who provide essential support to their families and communities, often behind the scenes. They are the quiet heroes of our community. Supporting a parent with dementia, a partner with a chronic illness or a child with a disability, their devotion and care are unconditional.

I am particularly mindful of our young carers, who play a vital role in supporting family members or friends whilst trying to balance school, work and a personal life. They take on significant responsibilities, often at a young age, providing emotional, practical and sometimes medical assistance. Younger carers are often forced to grow up fast, advocating for those that they care for, but too often it is without someone there to advocate for them. They face unique challenges, including deep social isolation and limited time for their own education and basic self-care.

Our local organisations and community groups in the Northern Metropolitan Region do an outstanding job of creating safe spaces for carers to connect, share their lived experience and take a well-deserved break. Grassroots events like that in Kensington show exactly why localised support networks matter. They give our hardworking carers a precious moment to be looked after instead of always being the ones looking after others. We must ensure that every carer right across our vibrant communities in the northern suburbs knows that their government sees them, values them and supports them. The action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on how the Allan Labor government is continuing to support carers within Kensington and across the broader Northern Metropolitan Region.