The Carer's
Journey

69,000 Victorians are supporting someone with mental health challenges. Many of them have reported feeling devastated and repeatedly let down by the Mental Health and Wellbeing System.

One of these people is Colin. After Colin's daughter was discharged from a hospital admission and took her own life two days later, the treating Psychiatrist informed him and his family that this wasn't uncommon to see immediately after discharge. The fact that this information wasn't brought to their attention until it was too late only highlights one example of a catastrophic failure — one that left an entire family to pick up the pieces.

Fortunately, Tandem has helped bridge the gap between family carers and the Mental Health and Wellbeing System for 30 years. And there's still a way to go.

Family carers supporting loved ones with mental health challenges face an overwhelming set of barriers within the Mental Health and Wellbeing System. With limited resources and little guidance, they're often left isolated, frustrated, and disconnected from the support they need.

Despite the fact that Tandem and other organisations have been providing much-needed support to mental health carers across Victoria, many carers still feel the system is broken — inaccessible and fragmented by poor communication, lack of collaboration between clinicians and carers, and missed opportunities for early intervention.

Confidentiality regulations and inadequate integration across services has left many families in the dark, often resulting in devastating and irreversible consequences for their loved ones. A cultural shift is needed — urgently — that starts with policymakers and clinicians working side by side with families.

To mark Tandem Carers' 30th anniversary, we created a heartfelt film that showcased the experiences of family carers — woven through deeply personal stories that highlighted both the triumphs and tribulations of their journeys.

Our team approached this project with empathy, allowing carers to share how Tandem's support has been a lifeline amid their struggles. The film underscored Tandem's mission to connect people with resources and provide hope where there was once despair.

We crafted the narrative to reach beyond emotion — aiming to convey the urgent need for policy change and to advocate for carers' rights directly to the policymakers in the room. This tribute was as much a call to action as it was a celebration of Tandem's ongoing commitment to carers and families.