Madeleine Buchner

Madeleine Buchner is a social entrepreneur and advocate for young carers. Drawing on her own experience growing up with caring responsibilities, she founded Little Dreamers Australia at age 16 to support young people whose contributions to their families can often go unrecognised.Madeleine began fundraising for children with caring responsibilities when she was nine years old. Having helped care for her brother and mother, she understood that young carers could benefit from opportunities to connect with others, pursue their interests and receive support of their own.Little Dreamers has since grown into a national not-for-profit organisation supporting young people who provide unpaid care for a family member affected by disability, illness, substance use or frail age. Its programs include mentoring, educational support, school holiday activities and Dream Experiences, which give young carers the opportunity to enjoy a special experience of their choosing.Alongside direct support, Madeleine advocates for greater recognition of young carers and the challenges they can face in education, employment, wellbeing and social connection. She is also the author of My Brother is Sick Again, a children’s book exploring the experiences of young carers.In 2017, Madeleine received a Queen’s Young Leaders Award. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019 for service to youth through a range of organisations, and was named Young Victorian of the Year in 2023.