Young carers are children and young people aged up to twenty-five who help care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental health issue or has an alcohol or other drug problem. They may care for a parent, brother or sister, grandparent, other relative or friend.

Young carers are often a hidden group of at risk young people. In Victoria there are an estimated 104,700 children and young people with caring responsibilities.

Caring responsibilities can have positive effects, such as developing skills and building strong relationships, as well as some negative short and long-term effects such as poor health and wellbeing, social isolation, difficulty with transitions into adulthood.

What do young carers do?

Young carers often take on a range of responsibilities including:

î	Shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing and household chores
î	Specific care tasks such as assisting with mobility, grooming, bathing, toileting
î	Support and monitoring of the family members needs
î	Social and emotional support
î	Managing financial issues
î	Care for other siblings in the family
î	Liaising with service providers and health care professionals e.g. making appointments, discussing treatments and medications
î	Interpreting for family members where English is a second language

Check out the resources available to support young carers, including the Young Carer Kit, an interactive CD and loads of websites. There are also help and support services available for young carers.

© Carers Association Victoria 2007