Rose Cuff Featured in Third Sector: Calling for Urgent Action to Support Young People in Families Living with Mental Illness
19 August 2025
We’re proud to share that our CEO and Co-Founder, Rose Cuff, has been featured in Third Sector in a powerful article that brings national attention to an issue close to Satellite’s heart: the often invisible struggles of children and young people who grow up in families affected by mental illness.
In the article, The hidden toll on youth navigating family mental health challenges demands urgent action, Rose shares the stories, insights and evidence we’ve gathered over years of working alongside these incredible young people. She makes a strong and urgent case for shifting the way systems — from mental health to education — identify and support young carers and young people impacted by family mental health challenges.
“Just because a young person appears strong doesn’t mean they don’t need support.”
— Rose Cuff, CEO and Co-Founder, Satellite
Why This Matters
Across Australia, thousands of children and young people are quietly stepping into caregiving roles at home. They’re supporting parents, siblings or other family members who live with mental illness — often without recognition, appropriate language to describe their experiences, or access to the support they need.
These young people are frequently:
- Navigating complex emotions and responsibilities well beyond their years
- Experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression and social isolation
- Facing stigma that keeps their experiences hidden
- Falling through the cracks of systems that are still largely adult-centric
As Rose outlines in the article, too many services still fail to ask the most fundamental question: “Who else — especially young people — is being impacted here?”
From Admiration to Action
It’s common to label these young people as “resilient” or “inspiring.” While well-meaning, this admiration often masks their real needs. Strength shouldn’t mean silence. Compassion shouldn’t mean carrying the load alone.
In her piece, Rose outlines four urgent priorities to better support these young people:
- Proactive, not reactive support – Early intervention programs like those at Satellite can mitigate long-term impacts through creativity, community and connection.
- Support in schools – Educators need tools and training to recognise and respond when a student is struggling at home.
- Culturally safe, youth-led spaces – Especially for girls and gender-diverse youth who are often most affected and least visible.
- True youth inclusion in system reform – Young people must be at the table when decisions are made about services and supports that affect them.
“We owe them more than admiration. We owe them action.”
— Rose Cuff
Our Commitment
At Satellite, we are deeply committed to amplifying the voices of young people and creating spaces where their experiences are not only seen, but valued and supported. Rose’s article is a timely and powerful reminder of why this work matters — and why now is the time for collective change.
We encourage you to read and share the full article via Third Sector
