About Young Carers

Young carers are children and young people up to 25 years of age who help care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental health issue or who has an alcohol or other drug problem.

Between 4 and 10% of children and young people regularly care for an ill or disabled relative during childhood and adolescence (Moore and McArthur, 2007).

The life of a young carer may be very different from their peers; young carers often undertake caring tasks, similar to those undertaken by adult carers, without supervision or assistance.

At times young carers find themselves having to cope with situations that they find embarrassing and awkward, for example, being different from their non-carer peers and not being able to participate in peer activities or successfully juggle caring with school, work or study.

Other more sensitive situations including copign with the personal nature of care that may need to be provided, the stigma that is still associated with some illnesses, conditions and disabilities and the lack of their own personal privacy.

Studies on a number of young carers in Australia suggest that many young carers are 'hidden' - they do not identify themselves as carers nor use formal services for carers.

Census figures are also likely to underestimate that prevalence of children's unpaid care as they rely on parents' reporting of their children's caring roles which parents may be reluctant to disclose, particularly in situations involving mental illness, drugs and alcohol.

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