Young Carers
The term ‘young carer’ is used to describe children and young people up to 25 years of age, who provide unpaid care for a family member who has a disability, mental illness or chronic illness, or who is frail aged.
Young Carers
The term ‘young carer’ is used to describe children and young people up to 25 years of age, who provide unpaid care for a family member who has a disability, mental illness or chronic illness, or who is frail aged.
On this page...
Who are young carers?
The term ‘young carer’ is used to describe children and young people up to 25 years of age, who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness or chronic illness, or who is frail aged.
Young carers are often a hidden group of 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.
"I felt sad if I got sick as there was no one to look after me." - a young carer
What do young carers do?
Young carers often take on a range of responsibilities including:
- shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing and household chores
- specific care tasks such as assisting with mobility, grooming, bathing, toileting
- support and monitoring of the family members needs
- social and emotional support
- managing financial issues – property maintenance, paying bills, banking
- care for other siblings in the family
- liaising with service providers and health care professionals e.g. making appointments, discussing treatments and medications, and
- interpreting for family members where English is a second language
"I don't get time off... always cooking, homework, housework." Mick, 13 years old
How does caring impact young people?
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For young carers
This is a page for young people with caring responsibilities, with resources, stories, and helpful information to help you on your journey as a young carer.For young carers
This is a page for young people with caring responsibilities, with resources, stories, and helpful information to help you on your journey as a young carer. -
For families, parents and guardians
No matter what your relationship with the young carer in your life, it's important to let them know that they are supported and valued. Find out more about how you can support young carers.For families, parents and guardians
No matter what your relationship with the young carer in your life, it's important to let them know that they are supported and valued. Find out more about how you can support young carers. -
For teachers
It's important that teachers are able to identify and help young people with caring responsibilities, so we can ensure that all young carers in school are supported and engaged in their education.For teachers
It's important that teachers are able to identify and help young people with caring responsibilities, so we can ensure that all young carers in school are supported and engaged in their education. -
For service providers
Young carers often take on their caring role without help or supervision. Service providers are vital to building a professional support network for young people who are caring to make sure they can be healthy and happy.For service providers
Young carers often take on their caring role without help or supervision. Service providers are vital to building a professional support network for young people who are caring to make sure they can be healthy and happy. -
Young carers scholarships
Supporting young carersYoung carers scholarships
Supporting young carers -
Help and Support
Find out more about the services that are available to support young carers in Victoria.Help and Support
Find out more about the services that are available to support young carers in Victoria.