Who are young carers

Young carers are children and young adults under the age of 26 who provide unpaid care and assistance for family members or friends with a chronic illness, disability, mental illness, who are frail aged or who have alcohol or other drug problems.

Young carers provide a wide range of practical and emotional assistance to those for whom they care including:

• accompanying the person cared for to medical appointments
• providing social support to the cared-for person
• providing support during periods of increased emotional or physical stress
• assisting the person they care for with dressing, bathing, toileting and mobility
• administering or reminding about medication
• buying groceries, cooking, cleaning, handling household finances
• advocacy and negotiation with service providers.

At least one in ten children in Australia has some level of care responsibility in their home. This equates to there being, on average, two or three young carers in every classroom in Australia.

Across Australia, over 380 000 children and young people help care for their relatives.

Is your child a young carer?

• Yes - if you are a parent caring for a family member or friend, then chances are one or more of your children is a young carer by helping to provide care and/or taking on additional responsibilities
• Yes - if you are a parent with a disability, an ongoing illness, mental illness, chronic condition, alcohol or drug issue, then chances are one or more of your children is a young carer by providing care and support and taking on additional responsibilities.