Young carers
Being a parent can be challenging and rewarding, but the dynamic changes when a young carer provides support to their mum, dad, brother or sister.
Brisbane teenager Lachlan St.Godard was only 3 years old when his mum, Margie, told him she had multiple sclerosis—a progressive disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
'One of my earliest memories was mum telling me,' he says.
'I gradually came to the realisation I'd have to take an active role in looking after her. I knew I'd have to do more stuff than kids normally would.'
Being a young carer can mean different things: including taking on extra responsibilities and chores, assuming a parental role for siblings and providing emotional support.
Lachlan is 1 of more than 300,000 young people who provide informal care to a relative or friend in Australia.
More than 22,000 young Australians aged 15 to 24 take on the responsibility of being the primary carer for a family member or friend with a disability, physical or mental illness or who is frail aged. More than 60% of these young carers are a son or daughter who provides support, help and assistance.*
You can read Lachlan and Margie's story, and stories shared by other Queensland parents and young carers.
Support for young carers
Taking on a caring role at a young age can have a dramatic impact on a young person—as well as the person who accepts their care and others involved in their lives.
If you are a young carer who needs emergency help, call Triple Zero (000).
There are 2 main organisations that offer support to young carers.
- Carers Queensland-1800 242 636—is an information and referral service. They also have a young carer counsellor available if young carers need to chat. Michael Sheedy, a young carer counsellor, shares advice for young carers on Disability Online.
- Young Carers Project—1800 200 422—operates nationwide and offers practical support to young carers.
Both organisations are funded through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Other support is also available. If you are a young person, you can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. Lifeline provides 24-hour telephone crisis support on 13 11 14. You can also get in touch with a web counsellor.
More information is available on Disability Online about support for all carers.
Our experiences
Disability Online spoke to young carers and their parents about their experiences with giving and receiving care.
- Lachlan St.Godard and his mum, Margie, talk about their close bond and overcoming challenges together
- Jan Christison discusses the support she receives from her family and living with mental illness
- Taylor Moon, 18, talks about caring for her mum, raising her brother and working towards her goals
- Belinda Jennings, 11, talks about her friendship with her younger sister, Emma, who has autism
- Shelley Heaton shares how having a disability doesn't hold her back, and supporting her daughter, Shona.
Role Reversal: when your child becomes your carer
Young Carers Project Brisbane South (YCP) assists young carers in the Brisbane South region by offering access to tuition, extracurricular activities, social support and advocacy.
YCP also runs a support group for parents or grandparents who are supported by a young carer. The group allows parents to socialise with others who understand what it's like to receive support from a young person. It's also an opportunity for those involved to share their experiences and to seek advice from others.
The group came together to create a booklet, Role Reversal: when your child becomes your carer. It aims to increase community awareness about what happens if you experience disability or illness, and your child becomes your carer.
Topics covered include:
- receiving care from a young carer
- working together
- conflict
- balance
- change and growth
- school experiences
- working with teachers
- bullying
- dealing with healthcare professionals.
Parents who helped develop the booklet, as well as a coordinator at YCP, spoke to Disability Online about making Role Reversal: from start to finish.
*Statistics published in Australia's Welfare 2011, a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
