A massive that you to all our carers who entered!
In March, we launched our first ever Young Carer Art Competition, inviting carers aged under 25 to create artwork that reflected their caring role. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the vital role young carers play in supporting their siblings and family members, while also providing a creative outlet for self-expression.
Boy, were we overwhelmed by both the number and quality of entries received, with over 100 submissions making the judging process incredibly difficult.
Ultimately, through consultation with local artists and stakeholders, the following entries were deemed the winners of their respective age categories.
All of the submissions we received were beautiful and we wish we could share them all. In October, we’re inviting all those who participated to a mini exhibition at our Carers Week event.
The winning entries
Ages 12 and under
1st: Boabab Tree (Bottle Tree) – Joanna, 8
“This artwork is about a Boabab tree, which is special because of its unusual shape and strong trunk. I learned that mixing colours carefully helps make the tree look more realistic, especially using warm reds to create better browns. I also used different techniques like a palette knife and thin plastic to add texture, which was tricky but created an interesting effect. Changing the sky from dark blue to lighter sky blue made the whole picture look better.”
2nd: Colourful fish – Zahra, 6
“Everyone is unique and special in their own way, just like the fish with its many different colours. The ocean represents a world full of possibilities, while the stars represent hopes and dreams. This artwork reflects her voice by showing her imagination, love of nature, and belief that it is okay to be different and shine brightly.”
3rd: Big Sisters Rock – Ella, 8
“I am Caleb’s big sister, I am a carer. I get nice things for Caleb because he is my brother and I like seeing him have a smile on his face.”
Ages 13-18
1st: Value of Time – Eloise, 16
“Spending time with family and friends is such a valuable gift. My sister in law doesn’t live in Australia and when she recently visited I took her on a Melbourne city tour. I promised her a piece of artwork to remember her time in Melbourne, and here it is.”
2nd: Unique not Weak – Bella, 18
“A young person in a wheelchair playing basketball, a young woman with coloured hair wearing a dress the colours of the lesbian flag to visually represent who she loves, and a woman of colour with short hair wearing headphones. These people are all different, and these people are colourful, bold and proud. There shadows are all the same, and they are boring, dull and colourless. Because that’s what a world with difference would be.”
3rd: The Amazing Henry – Maeve, 14
“At 2 years of age Henry was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer which took most of his vision including his right eye. He had over 50 anesthetics and 3 years of treatment and never once complained. Despite having limited vision, he challenges himself every day and gives everything a go. My art piece relates to the theme ‘Your art, your voice’ as all the objects surrounding him are meaningful and make him who he is. The flames at the bottom symbolise his courage and the colours around him represent his positive attitude and energy. Henry is my hero!”
Ages 19-25
1st: Billy the Kidna – Elijah, 19
“Nail art, painted using a hair of my dog.”
2nd: The Fate of a Bleeding Heart – Chloe, 24
“The weight of the world hangs dark and heavy across your limbs, seeping in at the edges and slowly creeping to your centre, your core. You. Ties pull you in all directions, felt deeply but so unseen. Your light is still there but how long will it be before you’re pulled apart or fade into nothing?”
3rd: Chaos – Georgie, 25
“Between working 4 days a week as a peer worker and my caring responsibilities, I do not have a lot of time to solely dedicate to my art anymore. Despite the chaos, I continue to create. I doodle in meetings, I doodle in sessions with clients, I doodle at lunch, I doodle at conferences, I doodle in crisis. Creating grounds me, it helps me to stay present, to channel the noise out of my head and on to paper. This is a culmination of the last 6 months of doodling. I hope that my piece inspires people to keep creating, even through chaos.”
और ढूंढें
