Maddie nominated
The nomination recognises her pioneering work in addressing the challenges faced by young carers across Australia.
A Jewish social entrepreneur who has dedicated more than two decades to supporting young carers has been nominated as one of Victoria’s candidates for Australian of the Year.
Thirty-one-year-old Madeleine Buchner (pictured), from South Caulfield, founded Little Dreamers, an organisation supporting children and young people who provide unpaid care for family members.
The nomination recognises her pioneering work in addressing the challenges faced by young carers across Australia.
“It’s a massive honour to be nominated, and amongst kind of incredible people that I have looked up to for a very, very long time,” she told The AJN.
Buchner’s journey began at the age of nine when she founded a group with two friends, initially supporting siblings of children with serious illnesses.
By her mid-teens, she had expanded her vision, establishing Little Dreamers in 2009 to create more comprehensive support programs.
“We work with kids and young people who provide unpaid care in their family,” she explained.
“They might have a parent, a sibling or a grandparent who has a chronic health condition, mental health disability, substance abuse or substance use.”
The organisation’s programs address five key areas: social connectedness, education disadvantage, unemployment, financial disadvantage and mental health.
Little Dreamers also conducts education programs and advocates for policy change.
Buchner attributes her commitment to social justice to her Jewish upbringing.
“I was brought up in a family where the principles of chesed and kindness were very ingrained in how we were raised,” she said. “The values that have come from my Jewish heritage and my family have taught me that if you don’t like something, or you don’t agree with how something’s done, you do have the power to change it.”
As a former young carer herself, Buchner hopes her nomination will inspire others in similar situations. “More than anything, I’m excited that young carers can see someone who’s like them on a platform like this and know that they can do anything that they put their mind to,” she said.
The Victorian nominee will progress to the national Australian of the Year awards in Canberra this January, where the overall winner will be announced.
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