New UL initiative to raise awareness of students with caring responsibilities

A new initiative that aims to support young carers who are studying at University of Limerick has been launched.

A new resource signposting student carers to the supports available to them at UL will be disseminated across the campus. 

The Student Carer infographic is the outcome of research carried out by members of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment  Committee at UL’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. The project is being led by Assistant Professor Breda Moloney, in collaboration with Family Carers Ireland, a national charity organisation that supports all family carers. 

The project aims to raise awareness and increase support for students who are struggling to juggle their studies with their caring duties at home.

“I was inspired to undertake this project following engagement with an increasing number of students involved in caring for relatives and witnessing them struggle to manage their course work alongside the demands of caring. I believe there is insufficient recognition and awareness about this issue which can lead to student drop out and in turn can have long lasting negative socio-economic implications,” Assistant Professor Moloney explained.

A student carer is defined as an individual registered on a higher education institution program who also provides unpaid care for a relative with an illness, disability, mental health condition, or addiction that requires their ongoing support.

According to research, there are over 15,407 student carers in Higher Education Institutions throughout Ireland.

Following a funding award by the Centre of Transformative Learning at UL, the project team hosted a ‘World Café’ event last autumn where students, educators, and university student support departments came together to explore perspectives and experiences.

Key priorities highlighted by students included increasing awareness of student carers through university literature and related support documents, the creation of a ‘student carer hub’, lecturers’ acknowledgment of a student’s situation and openness to discussing flexibility with course work. 

Top priorities for the UL staff involved in the discussions echoed the students’ suggestions, as well as a recommendation to define student carers in admissions documents and increasing visibility of academic, financial and personal supports for student carers.  

These findings informed the co-creation of the ‘Student Carer’ Infographic – an image containing information to signpost student carers to supports available to them in UL. 

19-year-old Conor Curran, a second year student from UL’s BSc in Science Education, was part of the student cohort who participated in the research to share his views. 

Conor cares for his 17-year-old brother Daniel who lives with 22q11 deletion syndrome more commonly known as DiGeorge Syndrome – a condition which causes developmental difficulties. 

“I'm lucky, I'm in a situation that's a lot better than some people. I can go to college during the week and help out with caring when I go home at the weekends,” he said. 

“My brother Daniel has a certain amount of independence, but he does need help with some things - dressing, personal care, and is peg-fed through a stomach tube where he also gets all his medication. 

“He has scoliosis, which affects his balance and coordination, and epilepsy, which can lead to him needing to be in a wheelchair at times. I help him get up and dressed. If he needs medication, I give him that. He is prone to a little bit of choking, so you have to keep an eye on him when he eats. 

“On an average day, although Daniel is not at the front of my mind, there is always a little part of me that always worries about him. When he’s sick or is on his monthly visits to the hospital, it does play on my mind, especially when I wouldn’t get to see him during the week while I’m in college in Limerick. 

“Recognition and support at university is really important. For example, I had a situation when Daniel was rushed to hospital in Dublin and so I needed to go home to Waterford to look after my younger brother at home. I was due to attend a mandatory lab that was required to pass the module, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to go. I emailed my lecturer, explained the situation and was able to re-schedule. 

“I’ve also benefited from counselling supports from both UL and Family Carers Ireland, it’s nice to be able to have a chat with someone about your situation,” Conor continued.

Assistant Professor Moloney emphasised that “student carers are not seeking sympathy, what they want is acknowledgement, someone who will listen, reasonable accommodations with coursework. Ultimately they do not want to be ‘othered’ just included.” 

UL’s Student Affairs Services have been instrumental in supporting this initiative. They offer support to student carers in the area of wellbeing through counselling, medical support, chaplaincy and by connecting student carers with their peers. They also provide information on financial aid and advice on navigating academic difficulties.

They will disseminate the infographic on digital information screens across the campus and in the digital student handbook that is circulated to all students at the start of each semester. 

Welcoming the launch of the infographic, UL’s Director of Student Affairs, Rhona McCormack said: “Student carers are a group identified in the National Access Plan 2022-2028 as potentially needing additional support and guidance to successfully and equitably participate in higher education. 

“University of Limerick and the Student Affairs Services are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students. By understanding where our students are at, we ensure as much as possible that students’ personal circumstances are not barriers to their enjoyable and effective engagement in their studies. 

“The production and dissemination of this infographic is an important step in recognising and acknowledging the varied life circumstances of UL’s students, in supporting all students to feel part of our university community, and in assisting our students to achieve their potential.”

Elayne O’Hara, Support Manager Young Carers with Family Carers Ireland, who partnered with UL on the new initiative said: “I am delighted to have had the opportunity to partner with the team at University of Limerick to raise awareness about Student Carers. Young Adult Carers are a largely invisible group in our communities, quietly making sacrifices and caring for loved ones while also juggling all the other stresses that come with further and higher education, home and family life. 

“Through raising awareness on campus, UL is taking an important step towards supporting carers in further and higher education. Many young carers feel so isolated, and it is essential that they know where they can go for support. The launch of this infographic will help so many young carers to identify the supports they can avail of both in UL and through Family Carers Ireland.”

“This initiative on raising the awareness of students with caring responsibilities is a vital component in UL's continuous strive for equality and inclusion and is an important component to acknowledge for every student’s academic and personal wellbeing,” Professor Moloney concluded.