Laarni is a Case Manager for CYCLOPS young carer program with Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT. Laarni supports individual young carers and their families using a person-centred, strengths-based case management approach. Laarni facilitates social groups for young carers across a variety of age groups, and facilitates group sessions for young carer groups in schools across the ACT. Laarni possesses a rare combination of skills in engaging groups of young people, and the diligence to provide effective case work to individual young carers and their families. She always gets great feedback from young people and workers.
Laarni first joined the CYCLOPS team supporting young carers in June 2023. Laarni was originally selected for her capacity to deliver group programs for young carers. Alongside more senior mentors within the program, Laarni quickly established herself as the point person for the variety of groups delivered by CYCLOPS. Laarni was responsible for the delivery of psychoeducation programs delivered in schools, and quickly displayed her diligence through delivery of several successful programs. Laarni recognised group work as an area of potential growth, and was supported to complete group work training in early 2024, with this accompanying an increase in working hours and being handed additional responsibility to provide case work to the young people she had engaged through the group programs.
Throughout 2024, Laarni played an important mentoring role for a social work student on placement, working with the student to share her growing knowledge of group work and case work processes. Laarni is incredibly diligent, communicative, efficient, and responsible; however, her greatest skills lie in her capacity to build meaningful relationships with young people. Laarni quickly established herself as a favourite of CYCLOPS’ participants, with her cheeky wit and gentle humour winning over many difficult to engage young people.
She is an important contributor to the Young Carers Network alongside other services, and is well-liked and respected by all. Laarni is often the glue in group settings, with the safety that young people feel in her presence starkly evident whenever she is not available for a CYCLOPS group. Her confidence in her skills has grown greatly; she is always looking to learn and grow from more experienced workers and from any trainings that can support her work. She is committed to her team and to the young people they support, who say they are lucky to have her!
