We are incredibly pleased and proud to announce that Case Manager for Anglicare’s CYCLOPS young carer program, Laarni Lambert, has been recognised by the Youth Coalition of the ACT—being named Outstanding New Talent for 2024.
Laarni joined the CYCLOPS team in mid-2023, originally focusing on facilitating group programs for young carers. Her person-centred, strengths-based approach, along with her cheeky wit and gentle humour, quickly made her a favourite among CYCLOPS participants and helped her win over many difficult-to-engage young people. In addition to facilitating social groups for young carers across a variety of age groups at Anglicare’s youth space in Civic, Laarni also facilitates in-school, psychoeducational group sessions as part of CYCLOPS’s Making Education Work program.
“Laarni is incredibly diligent, communicative, efficient, and responsible; however, her greatest skills lie in her capacity to build meaningful relationships with young people”, said Anglicare’s Child Youth and Family Services Coordinator, Daniel Gaffney.
Laarni’s ability to meaningfully engage young people in a group setting, and her diligence to provide effective case work to individual young carers and their families have made her an essential part of the team, and the feedback she receives from both is always positive. This year, Laarni recognised that group work could provide an opportunity for potential growth within the CYCLOPS program, and she was supported to complete focused group work training—which resulted in an increase in her work hours and additional case-work responsibilities.
Despite her relatively short tenure at CYCLPOPS, Laarni impressively took on a mentoring role for a social work student on placement throughout 2024, working with the student to share her growing knowledge of group work and case work processes.
Laarni has also quickly become an important contributor to the Young Carers Network, where she has developed respectful and collaborative working relationships with staff from other local service providers and assisted in sharing best practices across the industry.
“Laarni is often the glue in group settings”, said Daniel, “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 have developed 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 the team and to the young people they support, who say they are lucky to have her!”
Learn more about Anglicare’s CYCLOPS program and how we support young carers in the community here: https://www.anglicare.com.au/services/youth-family/young-carers/
