Read young carer stories

My name is Dylan, I am 14 and I have 2 younger brothers. Both boys have been diagnosed each with a rare genetic condition. One has congenital myasthenia syndrome, my youngest brother has muckle wells syndrome. Both boys need help and I am grateful for being the big brother they need. Wether it's helping to carry them, helping mum lift the electric wheelchair in and out of the car, helping mum and dad giving daily injections and learning myself how to do it, hugging them if they feel sad or feel unwell., shielding them from covid eventho it meant isolating as a family,.. we are a team and together we have to be strong. Really grateful for the young carers network as I know I'm not alone in this and I was able to do some things for myself.

My name is Amelia , I am 22 and live in Victoria.
One unique thing about me is that i love all different kinds of music!

I have been caring for my mother for 10 years. My Mother requires care because she is diagnosed with Bi-polar mood disorder.
I have to care for my mum  because i am her daughter. In my culture and my own personal beliefs I need to look after her because she brought me into this world, she is also my sole parent whom i love very much! 

My responsibilities include monitoring her mood, if she is depressed I need to do the household chores, I need to bathe her and help her eat,  do laundry, cleaning, cooking, paying the bills, organizing her doctors appointments and trying to motivate her to get better. When she is Manic and bipolar i need to monitor her moods, see if she poses a risk for me or others, try to control her spending as she can be impulsive and spend all our money that we need for shopping on 50 candles (true story). She can also be a little violent and disruptive as she won't sleep in this time. 

 I also have to wear earplugs at night to help me sleep due to her being very loud.
Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to take on extra chores and cleaning and having to be aware of the person they are caring for. 

A good day caring for my mom looks like : Being able to complete my goals of cleaning and taking care of her and myself with time to watch Netflix also! 
A bad day caring for my mom looks like : Not having enough sleep due to my mother keeping me up at night, having to clean up after her mess, Calling and apologizing for her behavior and actions to others if necessary.

Being away from my mom makes me feel worried. I am unsure of what she would do or if she will also miss me too much. Its an extra weight of worry.

Being a carer has changed my life because i have learnt to be able to properly look after myself and my mother. I know how to do all sorts of chores, I have a greater sense of empathy for others who are going through mental illness or caring for a parent. I have also been on a journey to look after my own life and get some independence. 
Because of my caring role I am unable to get a proper nights sleep, its hard for me to relax because i feel like there is always more to do.

Being a carer has taught me time management skills, being able to set goals to get organised otherwise i will also be feeling overwhelmed. It has taught me to be kind to people because you never know what extra responsibilities they carry!
I would cope better with my caring role if my mother's mood would be more stable, had more external supports to keep her on track with her medications and general health. If i had more hours in the day
I would like others to realize that it is OK to seek extra support, to put ourselves first sometimes because we give the best care when we are also being cared for. Also that everyone's situations are unique and looking after someone that has a mental illness can be emotionally but also physically draining.

My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to be kind to yourself! Look into extra help! Let teachers know if you need more time to complete work, see if you can get government funding or extra supports that are unique to your situation.  You are not alone. This is not your whole identity and you are doing amazing by just doing what you are doing! You are a superhero!

My name is Kaylah, I am 23 and live in Tasmania. One unique thing about me is that I love to do craft, which involves me sewing and crocheting, etc.

I have been caring for my mother for 2 years. I care for both my mother and brother in my life. My brother suffered with epilepsy, while my mum has mobility issues, chronic emphysema (Full time on oxygen) and she is just coming out of a six months stay in hospital. I have to care for my mother and brother because well I just took on the role. All my other siblings live further way with their families and I don’t have children. I don’t think I should expect them to help major in some ways.

My responsibilities include helping with toileting and bathing. However, I also have to study part time, whilst also preparing to return maybe to work a couple of days a week. Depending on how my mum’s health improves. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to look after themselves with their physical and mental health.

Being away from my mum makes me feel that I have a sense of peace wash over me knowing that I’m not far but there is someone there if mum needs help but also it is my time to have a breather. However, there is some guilt knowing that someone else might not do things properly, maybe give her the wrong medication or assist her to the toilet if it’s required and she tries herself and has a fall.

Being a carer has changed my life because I have developed a understanding of how precious life is, how much family means to me. Because of my caring role I am unable to attend work as a early childhood educator. But I have high hopes that mum's health will improve and I’ll be able to go back to work maybe 2-3 days a week. Being a carer has not only taught me to be patient and to look after myself but to also take note of those around me on how they feel and also that there is places that will help us if we are in need.

I would cope better with my caring role if I had more access to seeing someone about my mental health as my therapist costs me money out of my pocket and also having my trustworthy doctor in understanding my mothers health.

I would like others to realize that to not take life for granted and communicate to those around them; ask if they are well; if they need help in some way. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to look after themselves. Don’t burn yourselves out. You're no good to anyone if you are not well mentally and physically.

My name is Yunus, I am 16 and live in Victoria. One unique thing about me is I love cooking.

I have been caring for my grandfather for 3 years. My grandfather requires care because he has a disability. I have to care for my grandfather because he’s lonely.

My responsibilities include cleaning for my pops, cooking for him and shopping for him. However, I also have to help him get out of bed. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to care.

A good day caring for my grandfather looks like every day. Being away from my grandfather makes me feel scared.

Being a carer has changed my life because I am closer to my grandfather. Because of my caring role I am unable to work.

Being a carer has taught me patience and love. I’m already coping good. I would like others to realise that carers go through a lot. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is just do it.

My name is Tahlia, I am 16 and live in South Australia. One unique thing about me is that I’m in year 10 and I have been to 9 different schools.

I have been caring for my sister for 3 years. My sister requires care because she was born with a rare genetic syndrome called Cornelia de Lange syndrome [CdLS]. She has developmental and intellectual delays as well as many health problems.

My responsibilities include feeding, general looking after and bedtime routine. However I also have to help out with appointments and looking after our other brother who is 6.

A good day caring for my sister looks like lots of laughs, cuddles and making a mess. A bad day caring for my sister looks like tears and me stressing out because I don't know what to do.

Being away from my sister makes me feel stressed. I don't like leaving her with other people and next week she starts kindy which I’m nervous for.

Being a carer has changed my life because sometimes I have to stay back and help instead of having fun but I wouldn't change it because my sister and I have a better bond that what most siblings do and that bond will always be there.

Being a carer has taught me that no two people are the same, everyone is different and everyone has their own story. I would cope better with my caring role if I knew more people that were in the same position.

I would like others to realise that you are not alone. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is never give up. There will always be bad days but soon you'll realise that the good days outweigh the bad ones.

My name is Rafqaa. I am 16 years old and located in NSW. One unique thing about me is that I enjoy going to the farm with my dad.

I currently care for my sister who I have been caring for 11 years. My sister requires care as she has Sanfilippo syndrome which is a genetic disorder. It is known as a child disease as most children do not make it to adulthood.

My responsibilities as a young carer are tube feeding, nappy changing and providing medication. However, at times I also spend nights in the hospital when Mum and Dad get really tired. Just like me, I imagine other carers would give medication for their cared ones and experience many hard times.

On a good day, caring for my sister includes playing with her, being able to put her in a wheelchair and taking her outside and being able to stay at home and not rush to the hospital. During a bad day, caring for my sister includes lots of seizures, respiratory problems and rushing to the hospital.

Because of my caring roles, I am unable to go overseas. I am unable to go out with friends and family all the time and at times, it can get hard for me to complete homework.

Being a carer has changed my life as I am able to learn new skills. It reaches me resilience and makes me grateful and everything in my life. I would cope better with my role if I spoke more about my struggles as I tend to keep it all to myself at a time when I don’t know how to express my feelings.

Being away and not being able to help my sister makes me feel lonely. It becomes a daily routine looking after her so sometimes it becomes empty when she is not at home. I choose to care for my sister as it is the best way to appreciate everything I have and it’s normal for me.

Being a young carer has taught me that it is not about doing something because you know it’s right, it’s about doing it because you want to and it taught me to appreciate everything I have and not let go of it.

From this story, I would like others to realise that you are not alone and that other people also go through similar situations. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is that every bit of experience you take from the situation teaches you resilience and gives you appreciation.

My name is Megan and I am a proud mother of 2. When my daughter was born, she was 8 weeks premature as I was battling severe pre-eclampsia for the last two months of my pregnancy before she had to be cut out of my belly.

She was going extremely well and it looked as though she was going to come home before we thought. As she hit two weeks old, she caught a nasty bacterial infection from the special care nursery.

My daughter started having multiple seizures before she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. No one saw this coming at all except me when I explained to the midwife that morning that something was wrong because she wasn’t acting herself, and she replied with "oh, nahh I reckon she is having bowel movements". She didn’t end up getting a doctor like I asked her to.

With every antibiotic in her they were trying to keep her stable so she could be transferred to the women’s and children’s hospital in the neonatal unit/ intensive care and stayed in there for 53 days before we could take her home.

She was diagnosed with Meningitis, starting as an infection in her stomach then rapidly spreading all over her little body and up to the walls and inside her brain.

She was hooked up to every life support machine possible. They tried for weeks trying to find out the reason it happened but we got no answers because they killed the bug before they found out what it was.

The doctors did an MRI on her brain and found an extensive amount of brain damage and some cells already dead. We were told because of how severe the brain damage is, she will definitely not come out of this unscathed. She may suffer with things like she may not be able to move her limbs or know who her mum and dad are.

The doctors sat us down and we were asked to think about my daughter’s future and whether it was best to end her journey here. We decided to give her another chance.

But her poo tube collapsed and another MRI scan was done and they found more dead brain cells, the docs said its only going to keep dying until there’s none left. The questions popped up again, we made the horrific decision to let her be at peace.

We took her home to pass, on the second day I was worried she was in pain and was told to take her back to the hospital and they will assess her but on the way her hands went blue and she was unresponsive no matter what I did.

She regained consciousness when we got to the hospital thank God! But the docs told us that it was part of the dying process and it will happen again, all I can do is cuddle her and let her know how loved she is because she may not wake again.

It’s been 5 days since she has been home but the day is only getting closer and closer before she’s gone. I want to show her what this world I really made of with the small amount of time we have with her.

She is now 3 years old and has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and cortical visual impairment. But the most important thing is she is still here with us and living her best life she can. She will give anything a go and now is a proud sister to her 6-week old brother. :)

My name is Nirvana, and I live in a family of 6. I'm about to turn 16 and I have been a young carer since my mum and dad first got together, which is about 8 years now.

My dad’s brother has brain damage. Somebody punched him in the back of the head. This left him in a Coma for a while. When he woke up his first memory was fishing and catching Big Marlins. Since then we care for him, my two little brothers, my mum, my dad and I.

We are trying to make him have the life he should have had. Having brain damage is hard for him as he sometimes forgets things, even the simplest things, but he is still very smart. He loves doing puzzle books, which helps test his brain.

He goes down every year to see his mother, in Perth. He flys down every few months.

We all hope for the best as he has made it this far. He is now 51 years old, and still has a few years left in him.

Thank you for reading my story!

My name is Billie and I live in Victoria with my brother and my mother. I am a university student, and my brother is 9 and at primary school.

We spend a lot of time together, as I take him to school and pick him up most days outside of my university hours, and I spend a lot of time with him at home.

My brother is wonderfully unique and gorgeous, such a passionate young person, and has followed my love for drumming, music, and films. He is energetic and happy, often speaking in funny lines from his favourite films or inside jokes within the family.

My brother has grown into a curious and inquisitive boy, and cares deeply for his family, noticing when we are sad and wanting to care for us. He questions things he doesn't know and wants to know more about the world around him.

I love him dearly and there is no person who I care about more, who I understand more or who loves me more than my brother. He is full of so much pure beauty and love and there is the perfect brother for me!

I am a 15 year old carer. I care for my little sister who has autism and my dad who has depression. As well as them I have to take care of myself as I have anxiety.

Since I was little I have grown up teaching my sister many things that most people can do without thinking but I also look after her whilst she has a meltdown. Her meltdown can be as small as her crying or it can be as big as her hitting me or the people around or her trying to run away.

I have always been there for her at school when she gets bullied or when she needs some help with her school work. At home I will be helping her clean her room or she will be teaching me the new skills she learnt to keep herself calm.

There is no such thing as a normal day at my house. On school days I will be helping my mum get my sister, my dad and I ready for school. Everyday I have to help remind my sister to take her medication as this will help her control he moods as well as much more. On the weekends it will be helping mum clean the house or we will be going to the shops or to a friends.

I am thankful to be a young carer as I have had to grow up quickly as well as learned about so many ways to help myself.

My name is Beth, I am 16. One unique thing about me is ever since I was a little girl, I have always dreamed of being able to go to space. Although I've never wanted to actually become an astronaut.

I have been caring for my older sister for just over 2 and a half years. My sister requires care because she is severely autistic and has several different mental illnesses that require constant supervision.

I have to care for my sister because there is no one else that is able to. My mother has a serious illness and on her good days, she uses her energy to go grocery shopping and to pay the bills. There has been many nights, lying awake thinking of leaving home but she's my sister and I know I couldn't just leave.

My responsibilities include waking my sister up each morning to get her ready for school. I make her breakfast, pack her school, write out her schedule for the day and make her lunch. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to help around the house, by doing many different chores. My sister can be very aggressive at times. She can be physically abusive, threatening and very scary to be around at times. Obviously she doesn't mean it and is just lashing out.

Being away from my sister makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable. My biggest fear involving my sister is I'm going to find her when I come home and not be able to do anything. When I am at school or out, it does gives me a little break from her but it is never gives me a rest because I'm always thinking of her. I'm always questioning myself. "Did I leave any knifes out? Did I lock away her medication after I gave it to her? Did I leave my razor in the shower? Did I leave a box of panadol on my dressing table?"

Being a carer has changed my life because I have had to experience things that none of my classmates have and I hope nobody ever has to. A prime example is on my 14th birthday, I woke up at 2am to find my sister collapsed on the floor of her bedroom with empty pill packets everywhere. I then went to school that day, having to put up with classmates claiming I missed first period because I wanted to sleep in.

Because of my caring role I am unable to build lasting friendships. I am friendly to so many people at school but I lack a really good, trusting friendship with someone. There has been many times I have had to cancel on plans because my sister has gone into hospital or my mother needs my assistance at home.

Being a carer has taught me patience. A lot of patience. Never judge someone. You don't know their story and you haven't experienced their life and their struggles. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is never give up. You're doing great. Amazing, even. Keep going!

I’m an 18 year old young carer, I have a mother whom lives with depression and my eldest brother who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. I have 5 older brothers, sadly 2 are no longer with us. My mum got diagnosed with depression when I was about 15, before that everyone could see it but my mum didn’t want that diagnosis. My eldest brother and myself are the only ones that live with my mum still, she’s a single parent and damn has she had it hard.

So for the past 6ish years I have been helping my mum care for my brother and helping get my mum back on her feet several times. Mum had a lot of ups and downs throughout my high school years which resulted in me not having transport to school, or when I did go being stressed, tired and worried about how she’s coping.

There was more days that I stayed home then going to school due to having to get my brother out of bed, showering him, clothing him, giving him breakfast, medicine, making sure he had money to go out with his support workers, brushing his hair and teeth. By that time, it was usually 9am when his support workers would arrive to pick him up, I couldn’t manage to get mum out of bed to take me to school, there’s no transport to get to school from my area, no buses and I had no one to ask to give me a lift. There was a lot of days where I would tell mum I was sick and couldn’t go to school, she wouldn’t know why because no one in the house had been sick, in 2015 I was told I have anxiety and a high stress rate.

When I started getting older I had a friend that would occasionally pick me up and my mum has less bad days, but she still does have bad days, she greaves of the loss of her two sons, I greave the loss of my brothers, it’s hard to try to pick someone up and give a positive message when you’re struggling yourself but I can’t stand to see my mum down and out so I do my best to brush off my emotions and help her through her days.

Don’t get me wrong my mum is a great mother and she does so so much for both me and my brothers, but when someone lives with depression they can’t control their emotions, they can’t control when they have meltdown episodes. So that’s why I’m hereto keep my mum on her feet and keep my brother happy. My mum is amazing, sometimes you would not even believe she has a mental illness and other times you think to yourself ‘she’s really not happy today’.

At the end of the day, I’m happy and I know that at this moment in time so are my mum and brother, over the last two years I have been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend and his family, but now I’m living in a granny flat with my boyfriend on my mum+brothers property. I have my own space but I’m also there to help. I walk up to the house every morning at 8am to wake my mum up and tell her it’s time to get my brother ready, I cook dinner some nights for all 4 of us and we sit down to eat together.

My story is a bit blurred and probably explained out of order. I hope you can make sense of it when taking the time to read it.

Being a young carer is hard and I just want to say to all you Young Carers out there, well done! I’m proud of you!☺️

When I was 19 years old, I was enrolled to study full time at university. Two weeks prior starting, my mother came home and said she needed to talk to my brother and I. My brother 25 and myself sat down and mum told us that she had been diagnosed with cancer however they did not know the starting point of the cancer. From that day my whole life as I knew it changed as the person who I loved the most was about to go through the toughest challenge.

My mother and I were best friends and inseparable. She went to hospital for two weeks and they still couldn’t identify where her cancer started just that they knew it had spread to the liver and lungs. (My mum was 47 years old when diagnosed, healthy, non-smoker).

They started her on chemotherapy and she had to quit her job. I deferred university to become her carer. After the first round of chemotherapy the cancer didn’t shrink however it did not grow. They let mum have a break until it started to grow again and then put her on another round of therapy.

She was a trooper. So strong and optimistic the whole time, we still went for long walks when she could and we would have fun. Right up until the last 6 months of her life. She slowly deteriorated into a woman who I did not recognize anymore. This 37kg lady who had no hair, couldn't eat anything and was completely dependent on me.

Every day for 6 months I would shower her at 8:30am, dress her, moisturize her, cook and shop for her until the end. She passed away on the 17th of December 2018 and my birthday was the 13th. Because she got comatose she waited until my 22 birthday to say "Happy birthday my pip" and later that night she drifted into a coma that she then did not wake up from.

My mum was and will always be my best friend and at 49 passing away it is not fair for anyone to go through what she went through.

So I’m a young 14 year old that has been a young carer for 2 years, let me tell you its hard work.

So my mum has spinocerebellaataxia 1 (scar 1) now they limit my mum from doing a lot of things and let me tell you it’s hard for me as I have to wake up every day and see her struggling. It hurts me a lot because I know my mum is in pain 24/7 and I can’t do anything to help.

Now what’s hard as well is that I’m 14 I’m in high school 5 days a week but I’m also enrolled at police rangers so I’m busy doing all of that but I’m also helping mum do what she needs to do, I’m also a daily basis carer.

Now my days go as: wake up, get mum breaky, help her have a shower, get clothes for her, brush her hair and do a little clean up before 7:50 when I leave for my bus to take me to school, come home at around 4:15 and help her with dinner and cleaning, doing chores, sign paperwork, and do much more things.

I make dinner clean up the table and do the dishes and then help mum with shower and then I have a shower, and its usually around 8:00 now, I get myself ready for bed, but its homework time I have a lot of homework, I usually have up to 3 assessments due. so I go to bed around 11:00 and wake up at 7:00 so not as much sleep.

Now being a carer takes up 90% of my life, I dedicate myself to helping mum and seeing her happy, yes its stressful but I try and get through it, my life is filled up with fear of losing my mother and just seeing her upset. But everyday I get through it bit by bit.

Now what hurts the most is going to hospital because mum has fallen or even hurt herself by accident but she had a couple of surgeries and that hurt seeing her in more pain. But mostly all the bad things that happens to her and she is only 41 years old. Her life is limited to most things that most people can do.

I hope that people can relate to my story and see that having someone in their family that has a disability is hard and that we take each day of our life to be the best and that each day is a blessing to have the people you love around you.

My name is Ivona, I am 16 and live in New South Wales. One unique thing about me is that I am a twin.

I have been caring for my brother for as long as I can remember. My brother requires care because he is a nonverbal boy with autism. I have to care for my brother because my parents work from 4 am to 6pm and I am the oldest in the household.

My responsibilities include cooking, cleaning, waking him up in the morning and getting him ready to go to his special needs school. However, I also have to sacrifice weekends out with friends to look after my brother or days off school to take him to doctors’ appointments if my parents can’t make it because of work.

I also have to keep pretty much a constant eye on him as he has recently been having unpredictable seizures and we don’t know what’s causing them.

A good day caring for my brother looks like a day where we make chocolate chip cookies. A bad day caring for my brother looks like him having a seizure and me usually having to see it (which can be really scary) and calling an ambulance for him.

Being away from my brother makes me feel sad and I am usually constantly worrying about him. Being a carer has changed my life because I have had to grow up faster than other people my age and have more responsibilities. I have had to learn to be independent.

Because of my caring role I am unable to get good grades in school or have a social life or get a job. Being a carer has taught me to be independent, to help others and to not judge people with disabilities.

I would like others to realise that it’s not that bad to be a carer. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to talk to someone, don’t bottle up your feelings

Hi, my name is Hannah and I’m a young carer for my mum and my two brothers. My hobbies include sewing and crafts.

My normal day would start with get up, get dressed, help mum pack lunch and help get my little brother dressed and ready for school.

After school I would come home eat then help mum after dinner. I help bath and dress my little brother and help put him to bed.

I then help get mum ready for tomorrow by making sure our uniforms are clean during the day. I put loads of washing on, feed the dog, and clean the house.

To most people, I appear as an average young person, studying my degree, making weird dad jokes and dying my hair too many colours, but a look behind the curtain shows much more beauty and challenge than is expected.

I have grown up with my older brother for 21 years. He has high functioning autism, ADHD, ADD, Aspergers and Depression. This made growing up both a challenge and an excitement, living with a single mum, my younger brother and I tried to help out as much as we could, playing with, making food for and preparing medication for our older brother, although sometimes it just wasn't enough.

My brother had very aggressive anger issues growing up, to the point where we had our local police officers personal phone number and we were known to each other by first names. Our doors in our house were just an accessory for my brother to unhinge, our pot plants, targets for smashing practice.

It has certainly not been an easy road, but my brother has proven so many people wrong throughout his life, those who thought he would not amount to much. It has been such a pleasure watching him make close friends, talk to girls, get a job! and so, so much more.

I am most proud of how my brother has grown in the past three years. Our younger brother took his life at 16. This had a profound and deeply distressing effect on my older brother, and although the darkest time in his and our lives, he managed to come out of the situation and build himself up, piece by piece.

Sometimes I am asked if my brother is a pain, if I am glad to get away from it all, but the honest answer is no. When I went for the biggest interview of my young life, my brother bought me a 'mockingbird' bracelet (like out of The Hunger Games) as he thought I needed some luck, when I fell through a barbed wire fence when I was young, it was my brother who carried me to my mum, when I broke my arm while playing in the creek, it was my brother that made a splint for my arm. When I feel lonely away from home at university, my brother always manages to face time me and cheer me up with his current endeavours and adventures.

The truth is, I would not be who I am today without my big brother, and I love him and I am so proud of him, my family and my story.

My name is Maria, I am 15 and live in Queensland. One unique thing about me is I play basketball.

I have been caring for my mother for 12 months. My mother requires care because she has a really bad mental state and forgets thing frequently.

I have to care for my mother because I love her. My responsibilities include sorting out her medication and food. However I also have to sort out her clothing. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to clean up after them.

A good day caring for my looks like she is happy and laughs and isn’t sad. A bad day caring for my looks like she cry’s I get frustrated and upset. Being away from my mother makes me feel sad.

Being a carer has changed my life because everything I do revolves around her. Because of my caring role I am unable to go out often or have me time.

Being a carer has taught me that not everything is your choice and we all have to step up sometimes. I would cope better with my caring role if I didn’t get frustrated.

I would like others to realise that you should always take care of the ones you love. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to always make sure you are taking care of yourself too.

Most people think of young caring as a duty, or responsibility that the carer had no say in. I think of it as much more than that. Not only does it influence your entire life, views, values, and the way you treat people, but it teaches you skills that can only be learned from experience.

I care for my older brother, who is currently 20 years old and has Aspergers and ADHD. We live with our mum and my other brother, who is 18. Most of my responsibilities include making food, giving medications, and entertaining him when he is bored.

He is generally very controlling of our household, and it is often hard to catch a break. He also becomes enraged easily, and takes it out on a member of my family, even when not meaning to.

I try not to think of caring as a hardship, but little things like not being able to invite friends over, or looks from other people as we walk down the street, make me wonder how my life would be different without the caring role.

Being a young carer, I feel, has made me more responsible, accepting and empathetic towards other people’s problems.

My name is Izzy, I am 17 years old and I am a Clinical Support Worker.

I am the second eldest in my family. I live at home with my mum, little brother and baby sister. For the past 3 years I have helped my mum who is a single parent care for my baby sister and help parent my younger brother.

My baby sister suffers from a life limiting condition called “Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia Type 1b”. She is 1 of 6 in the world and she is the only one in Australia. Her condition means she is non mobile, non-verbal and suffers from seizures along with involuntary movements etc.

She requires daily suctioning, dozens of medications, 24/7 oxygen, Mic key button feeds and much more. Both my mum and I will care for her throughout the day and night whilst we also take care of my little brother.

My baby sister is frequently in hospital so when this happens mum stays with her while I stay home and take care of my brother.

My name is Ashleigh. I am thirteen years old and my five-year-old sister has autism. I have learned a lot of things from her like what things she needs extra help with. I help her with things like communicating and getting dressed. I do it in a way that seems like a game so that she is having fun but also learning.

A lot of things make her feel uncomfortable and I try to make her feel more comfortable whether that is playing a game with her or taking her outside. She can get upset very easily and I try to give her comfort toys that she likes to help calm her.

I am still learning to help my sister and still get frustrated with her sometimes but I am getting to understand her more and more each day. Watching her work hard on her therapy homework encourages me to try harder at things that are hard for me to do.

I think that having a sibling with autism is an experience that teaches you so much and I have realized how talented people with autism are. My sister has an incredible memory. She is good at helping me find things when I don't know where I left them. I love my sister.

My name is Emily, I am 25 years old and I care for my older brother Jamie. Jamie was born with a genetic condition called xxyy48, which impacts him physically and intellectually. Jamie and I have always been close. I understand him really well when most others don't.

Jamie has lived with me for around 7 years. We now live together with my partner Dylan, and my new baby Evie. I am currently unemployed, and will remain so until Jamie becomes more independent. This is a goal we are working towards with the help of his NDIA funding.

Jamie has support two days a week from paid support workers to increase his social participation and increase his life skills. The rest of the days of the week support is provided by me. I take care of the household work and cooking for Jamie, and I also help him to manage his money and bills. I assist him with various errands and attend all medical appointments.

Jamie has required numerous surgeries on his legs and feet to keep him mobile. During the recovery periods I assist with his mobility and self-care needs like showering and dressing. I coordinate most things in Jamie's life.

Caring for Jamie is challenging and rewarding. With the recent birth of my daughter, things have been tricky at home, but we are slowly getting used to the changes that we are making. It is hard to juggle being a new mother and a young carer, but I love that we are such a close family. To see Jamie grow and learn new skills is such a great feeling. I want nothing more than for him to lead a happy life!

Hi. My name is James and I am a young carer. I care for my older brother, who has autism spectrum disorder. My duties usually involve staying around the house with him to keep him entertained and give him company as he has no friends outside of home. I also have to take care of him by making sure he remembers to eat, drink, and take his medicine every day.

Unfortunately, he is quite controlling and mum has lost all control over how the house runs due to giving him a bit of control over the years that has ended up with him being over controlling and using it to his advantage, in a way similar to tyranny.

Luckily I have just finished college and will be moving on to further study next year so I will be able to have a break from my horrible home life. I look to study to be a community worker so I can help other people who are dealing with my situation so that they can have the help they need since I wasn't given this help throughout my years as a young carer.

I also want to be able to help other people, not just the people with caring roles, but as many people as I can, so that everyone has a fair start to life and can follow their own path.

My name is Arzu Zaiba Hattam 13 years old and I am a career to my mother. My mother has type 1 diabetes (an Autoimmune disease) and although it may not be a debilitating disease it can still be very difficult for her and when things affect mum in a major way they affect all of us.

My mum often has to test her blood’s sugar levels and inject herself with insulin. My mother goes through mass amounts of stress and this can be dangerous for her so I must be there to support her by helping out around the house and making sure my siblings are taken care of.

My role as a career is to help mum when needed whether it be helping with her medicines or helping around the house I try to help. I don’t have to do much around the house because mum does most of it but sometimes when things like laundry need to be done I am able to step in and help.

I have two younger siblings that I live with, a ten month old and a five-year-old, I love each of them to bits but sometimes it can get a bit difficult for mum so I have to make sure they are not hassling her, to be honest they can get a little difficult for me too but I know that mum has important thing to do.

My name is Alisha, I am 17 and live in Victoria. One unique thing about me is that I play the violin and I am a scout.

I have been caring for my brother for 10 years. My brother requires care because he has autism. I have to care for my brother because I live with him and I am the eldest of 6 children. My dad works full time, so we don't get to see him. And my mum also has a medical condition.

My responsibilities include helping with my other 4 younger siblings. By feeding, and entertaining them. However, I also have to miss out on things. Because I am scared to leave them all behind. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to do many more house chores.

A good day caring for my brother looks like, no meltdowns, it’s calm and everyone is happy. Being away from my brother makes me feel anxious.

Being a carer has changed my life because it has taught me life is what we have and making it how we want it may sometimes not happen. Because of my caring role I am unable to participate in scout things as much as my friends can. Being a carer has taught me to love what I have.

I would cope better with my caring role if I could have more time to myself. And to be able to do homework without anyone coming to me and asking me to help them with something.

I would like others to realise that you just need to look for the bright side when you are feeling down. And things can always get better. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to just keep it up and that you are all amazing.

Hey, my name is Daphne and I'm 16. Something about me is that I want to write music that people can connect with and feel but also be able to dance and move along to. I have been caring for my mother for 5 years. My mother requires care because she has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which affects her nervous system but mainly her legs.

I have to care for my mum because I get home earlier than my dad does, and have holidays because I'm currently a student. Although I love what I do and I love my mum, I didn't always think I would be a young carer, it just suddenly dawned on me that I would have to look after my mum and the house.

My responsibilities include doing the family washing, cooking and cleaning. However, I also have to clean up after mum if she has an accident, like falling. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to clean the house and make sure the space is easily accessible.

A good day caring for my mum is not being interrupted when I'm trying to study. A bad day caring for my mum is being interrupted to do things that 'normal' people would do. Being away from my mum makes me feel nervous, as I don't know if today is a good day and if she will be able to do everything by herself. Or if it was a bad day and when I come home I will be heavily relied upon.

Being a carer has changed my life because I can sometimes feel more stressed if I have due dates coming up and having fully completed the task. But I'm also grateful for the responsibility and organisation it has given me. Because of my caring role I am unable to freely go places with friends over holidays, as I don't want to be too far away in case anything happens and she is home alone. My worst fear is that something bad will happen and myself or dad aren't there to help her.

Being a carer has taught me to take responsibility for my actions and to listen to how other people say things and not necessarily the words they say. To be able to understand a person without them having to tell you how they feel. I would cope better with my caring role if I didn't feel so worried and stressed if something was to go wrong, how that is going to impact my life and how I'm feeling.

I would like others to realise that although sometimes we may feel alone, and pressure on us. That the stress may start to build, we will always love the person we care for and wouldn't change the life we had. That our lives have shaped us and given us skills we can use when we are no longer caring.

My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is that you are an important member in someone else's life. That your presence is needed and valued, and although you may start to stress out of think that it’s over bearing. You are strong enough to get through the tough times that life will give to us.

Hi I was 5 years old when my brother was born and about a year and a half later he was diagnosed with autism.

My parents picked up when my brother was very young that there was something different about him, and because my brother was different, my life was different. For example,
• I was teased and bullied in primary school
• I was dragged from one therapy appointment to another, because my brother had sometimes up to 10 appointments each week
• I have to do more chores at home than my friends
• I help look after him, sometimes I get him dressed, help get his breakfast, sometimes I make his dinner
• I felt that life revolved around my brother and in the early days, for a 6 and 7 year old, it was hard.

But sometimes he is like every other brother – he likes to annoy me, take my stuff and call me silly names. There are times we play together and its loads of fun.

Other times it’s a bit tougher, like the time he ran out of the house to look at the neighbour’s Christmas lights.

There have been times where I was the only one that could calm him down by pushing him on the swing and giving him high 5’s.

I am 16 now so we have been around each other for over a decade. He is my brother and I wouldn’t have him any other way.

I can hardly remember what life was before 2009. I was only 10 at the time, and after that caring was all I knew.

Here’s the specifics; my mother injured her spine at work and caused permanent nerve damage. She had to have major surgery, where three of her spinal discs were replaced with metal ones, and then fused to the bone. She cannot feel three fingers on her right side, and has constant pins and needles. Due to the location of this injury she also gets incredible headaches and migraines. My Dad likes to describe it like this; you're at a music concert, let's say ACDC. You've had a bit to drink so you can't focus correctly. You go to the bathroom but can still hear the music, ebbing and pulsing because that's the nature of rock, you can still hear the kerfuffle of the crowd, even though its slightly muffled. Then someone you know walks in, and starts demanding your attention. They bang on your stall door, yelling and clambering and screaming. Sometimes they go away but they return frequently. That's the kind of situation in my mum's head, the pain is the rock concert, the flare ups the person, and my mum is the one inside the bathroom stall just trying to think clearly and get on with her business. She also deals with a number of mental illnesses that she doesn't like to explain, but boy is it hard to deal with that some days.

Now imagine a boxing ring. But it's me and my mum. Because of what she deals with every day her muscles are bigger, and because of her emotional turmoil her gloves are tougher. And I’m the skinny unprepared one, bruised already from last night's match. She throws the first punch; all the things I need to do tonight on top of what I already had planned. The other fist, I’m never good enough for her. She leaps forward; her scripts have run out so I’ve only got 10mins to get down to the pharmacy before it shuts.

And then there's the other side, when she has a particularly bad flare up, and she's in bed for several days on end, crying. And there’s nothing I can do to ease that pain for her. Even if I go in there and give her a cuddle or a plush toy (which is usually my go to, because if I can't be there she'll have something), talk to her, give her a glass of orange juice or something, she'll still be in pain.

I imagine that other young carers, some whom I’ve met and some who I haven't met yet, deal with all sorts of emotional baggage. Rather than just going home to do homework, chill out and maybe do some chores, we have to deal with next level stuff. I know there are young carers who deal with so much more than I and I think they're amazing for that, in comparison I feel like such a complainer. That's something I also recognise, my caring role is normal for me, so I feel like the awesome work that YAC does is wasted on my brother and I, but it's also something I am so so grateful for. There have been days when if I didn't have that kind of support base I don’t know where I’d be.

To you, young carers, reading this; even if you feel like your caring role isn't important, it is. I still feel like I’m not a carer all the time, I could do so much more, but I want to get on with my own life. It's okay to put yourself first. And it's okay if you hate it too, it's okay if you don't do everything, it's just important that you know that what you're doing for your loved one is important, even if they don't recognise it.

My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is don't be afraid to reach out. YAC and Raw Energy know their stuff. And don't be afraid to contact other young carers too - they are encyclopaedias of knowledge. So know this, you can put yourself first, and you are appreciated – even if who you care for doesn’t show it.

Hi! My name is Angela and I'm 15 years old. One unique thing about me is my appreciation for aged people and babies.

I have been caring for my identical twin sister for 12 years. My sister requires care because she has a physical and intellectual disability named Cerebral Palsy. She is completely wheelchair-bound. I have Cerebral Palsy too, but only mildly.

My responsibilities for my sister include changing, feeding and generally looking after her. She needs constant 24/7 care. My Mum and I mainly care for my sister, as my Dad is getting older and struggles to do the things he used to do. I try to take over Mum's jobs as I can tell when she's had enough. I also run errands, such as washing, cooking and cleaning whenever I have spare time. I worry when I'm not around my sister or family as I need them and they need me just as much. I feel very guilty when I take time to myself so I can't help my sister. Because I feel I need to help all of the time, I always end up taking over my sister trying to be independent. She gets frustrated when I don't let her be her own person and be independent.

Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to fit in time for study and school. I struggle to find time for homework. Although I miss a lot of days of school due to appointments for both my sister and I, I manage to catch up during school. But at home, I don't find time to do homework or extra study.

A good day caring for my sister is when my sister is happy and is in no pain. My sister is constantly in pain after having 5 surgeries for her hips. Therefore, being in pain causes her to be very frustrated and angry. I understand that she trusts us not to get mad at her, but it isn't fair. A bad day caring for my sister is when my sister is sad and in pain. I love my sister more than the world but sometimes it gets frustrating.

Because of my caring role I am unable to feel stress free. Every time something goes wrong, I automatically think of the worst. I come from a big family with older siblings, but I feel as though they don't understand what I do for my sister. They think that I shouldn't help as much, but it's not that easy. Being a carer has changed my life in every way possible. Overall I have had to mature before my peers. I'm so thankful that I have had the experience of being a carer and helping others. I would cope better with my caring role if my sister could have the same chances at life that I have. I would cope better if I could talk to others and make friends.

Being away from my sister makes me feel like the worst sister in the world. I feel guilty for leaving her with someone and not being there for her if she needs me. I care for my sister because I love her and want to see her blossom into an independent young woman. I'm not afraid to admit that I think it would be so beneficial for my Mum, my sister and I if she moved into a disability home when she gets older - somewhere we know she will be looked after and have the chance to go out and have fun and talk to others. Being a carer has taught me to appreciate people's help and that no matter what kind of day I'm having, there is always someone having a worse one.

I would like others to realize that they are not alone. I know that sometimes it feels like your the only one going through this, but there are so many young carers out there that are struggling just like you. Try to keep a positive outlook on life and realize that things happen for a reason. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to always talk to someone. Let it all out, so that it doesn't get bottled up and eventually explode. It's always important to talk.

Thank you for reading my story and keep smiling :)

Hey There! My name is Jess, I am based in NSW, I’m 15 and I have been a young carer for all my life :) I have a strong passion for music and love playing the guitar. I also love gaming.

My Mum was a few months pregnant with me when my Dad had the accident. Skiing. He was out for the weekend when he slipped on the ice, fell, and broke the top two vertebrae in his spine, leaving him a quadriplegic.

My entire life I have grown up with helping out my Dad and making day to day life as easy as possible, whether this means daily meals or helping out around the house I am always there to help out. My Dad and myself get along extremely well, our relationship is super strong, unbreakable. It's just Dad and I at home now but we handle it and get through.

Sometimes as an only child it becomes semi challenging to juggle school, social and family life, especially moving from each parent’s home but with the support I receive from my parents and the assurance that Dad will be fine whilst I'm gone, I get through.

My Dad has the best personality and is always in high spirits, we are constantly having great laughs and making new memories. Hardly ever a dull moment between us. Just like many other carers and young carers, it’s not a job or a chore to look after people, we do it out of genuine love :)

Being a young carer has literally been a part of me forever, and because of this I've gained independence and experience in helping others.

My name is Ava, I am 15 years old and live in New South Wales. One unique thing about me is that I love lots of sports, including basketball, netball and sailing. I also love scouts and camping.

I have been caring for my brother for 9 years. My brother requires care because he has Cerebral Palsy, a visual impairment and Epilepsy which combined means he needs 24/7 care. He goes to the same mainstream school as I did with other normal kids his age, but is in a special-needs class with other kids that have similar disabilities.

My responsibilities include simple things such as dressing him in the morning if my mum is unable to, looking after him after school, helping him with his homework and helping him in the bathroom. However, as he has Epilepsy so I also have to do a first-aid course every 4 year so that I know what I have to do if he has a fit or something else happens to him. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to help with day to day tasks that we take for granted such as dressing ourselves and bathing ourselves.

On a good day when I am looking after my brother he is obedient, kind and helpful. But on a bad day he is disrespectful, angry and can sometimes be a little bit aggressive. Because of my caring role I am unable to hang out with my friends as much as I would like to and because me or one of my family members is always with him and he is unable to do things like walking long distances it can even be difficult to do things with the family.

Being a carer has changed my life because I am more responsible and I know how to deal with situations that other people my age don't know deal with. I would cope better with my caring role if a break every now and then to go away for a weekend with my family or even just a day trip. Being away from my brother makes me feel anxious because I don't always know that the person taking care of him knows how to deal with certain situations.

I have to care for my brother because it is the right thing to do. I have grown up caring for him and I know him better than anyone else does. Being a carer has taught me to be strong and patient when things don't go my way or life throw something unexpected in the way and I have to deal with it. I would like others to realise that they are capable to do more things than they think they can. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is be strong and don't give up on yourself or the person you are caring for.

Hi, I’m a 14-year-old boy from Tasmania and I’m here to tell you my story. My journey started back when I was around 4 years old when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. The following months were hard for my family, finding the cash to pay for his treatment while trying to afford to feed 6 people including my younger brother who has autism to whom I care for.

A couple of years later my youngest brother was born but little did we know that as we would welcome one life to the world we would mourn the loss of another as sadly dad lost his battle. After that, life went well for about 3 years before my youngest brother who would of been roughly 3 years old was rushed to hospital after a rash had shown up. We all thought it was an allergic reaction to something he had ate till the tests came back and he was rushed to hospital.

Later that month we found out he had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia and that he had to spend the next couple of years hooked up to machines in hospital, those few years went past really slowly and no one quite knew what was happening since we were still young (me being about grade 3).

After he returned home we found out about all these organisations dedicated to help out families of those who had been affected by cancer, all those amazing foundations have helped me with my education and recently I’ve been able to go to New Caledonia thanks to the help of one of those organisations. I’ve also made heaps of new friends with people who have dealt with similar situations and everyone helps everyone out.

These days I help out by caring for my 2 younger brothers and my mum. I help out whenever I can whether that be simple tasks like washing the dishes or cleaning the house all the way to going out and splitting wood or feeding the horse and taking the dogs for walks but yeah anyway that’s my story.

Hi, I am Lucinda. I live in country South Australia. I am 16 and care for my sister who has multiple disabilities, including autism and an intellectual disability.

We are homeschooled and I love it. I do however have to spend 24/7 with my sister which can be challenging but also rewarding. I help as much as I can with the house hold chores, including cooking and help mum with my sister's learning. She engages better when I am helping her with learning and mum and I come up with some creative ways to teach her.

My passion and my escape from everything is my two miniature ponies. I love horses and love the connection and relationship you can have with them. They are my therapy and my happy place. I volunteer one day a week at a private horse sanctuary and have been volunteering with horses for several years. I am not into riding so much, but to help horses heal and gain trust again.

I am studying equine psychology as one day I would love to take my two ponies to nursing homes and hospitals as animal assisted therapy. My sister loves the ponies, but she is more into My Little Ponies and she is almost 14. It is only the 4 of us in our little family as we don't have extended family. I have an elderly Poppy, but Mum has to help care for him too. We rely on each other and have a very close bond.

I wish Young Carer's were more regarded in the community as they do a lot and go through a lot. Being in the country, I miss out on a lot of Young Carer activities, and I wish there were more funding for carers like myself. If I could share or give some advice to other Young Carer's, it would be that you are not alone and life can be challenging, but never give up.

My name is Kelsie, I am 16 and live in New South Wales. One thing you should know about me is that I love to spend time outside. Additionally, I LOVE travelling and meeting new people.
I have been caring for my sister for 8 years. My sister requires care because she has an intellectual disability. I have to care for my sister because her disability impacts her daily life. We live in the same household so it affects mine as well. However, I also have to supervise her at school and be her representative with teachers. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to speak on behalf of the person they care for me and manage tasks at home.

Being away from my sister makes me feel stressed and worried. Being a carer has changed my life because I've matured quickly and become an independent person. Because of my caring role I am unable to dedicate as much time to my studies as I need. I am usually preoccupied with doing stuff around the house and I don't have this time to complete schoolwork.

Being a carer has taught me how to solve problems and be resilient in the face of challenges. I would cope better with my caring role if I had the chance to have time by myself. Whether this is a day or a few hours. It would give me the opportunity to calm down and focus on important tasks at hand. To redirect my energy towards personal goals.

I would like others to realise that being a carer shouldn't hold you back from pursuing anything in life. We need to spend time helping the person we care for and we should focus energy towards following our dreams. Being a carer doesn't mean you can't achieve. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to try and live a balanced lifestyle. Prioritise caring on the same level as your own health, leisure and workload.

I’ve been my mum’s carer since I was 15. But even before that, I remember late night emergency room visits, and feeling more pressured to take on household responsibilities.

My mum has mental health issues, and as of February this year, was technically medically dead. See, for the past 18 months before February, mum had been having increasingly worse respiratory problems, to the point where she could not walk around the corner to the bus unaided. I remember going to the doctor multiple times, and our concerns being brushed off with ‘you should just exercise more’.

Then, in mid-February, at 3.30 in the morning, she yelled for me. We went to the emergency room that night, and my mum went into cardiac arrest induced by respiratory failure. She was resuscitated in a way that would not have been possible had we not been in the hospital.

I remember shutting down, so overloaded with panic and fear that all that would help was when my mind went numb. Because of this hospital visit, we learned that mum had a saddle pulmonary embolism, and that her right lung was only receiving 10% oxygen, just enough to keep the tissue alive. I was angry. For eighteen months we had fought to have doctors take her seriously, and it took her medically dying for it to work.

And here’s the bit that is less palatable for me to admit to. I resent my mother for the weight she puts on me. I resent that she will not seek help as long as I am present. But… That doesn’t mean I want her to die. The relief when I saw her alive in the hospital bed in the ER was like a tension snapping. My bones felt like jelly, and the tears came flooding.

Now, we’re eight months later, and the improvement is remarkable after the use of medication. However, with improvement, has meant that the reasons I was so willing to accept her refusal to seek other help, are gone. I resent her some days, I might hate her. And maybe that’s not the right thing to say, but…the number of times she calls me for something that she is capable of, but apparently unwilling to, within a single day is… abrasive at best.

I love my mum, but I hate her some days too. And, I know for my sake that I need to seek help, or make alternative arrangements for her care. But I have to ask. Is it right of me to abandon her like that, even for the sake of my own mental health? I don’t know the answer.

I’ve been running the household since I was 15, and it’s always set me apart from people. There’s a big difference between worrying about friend groups, or upcoming tests, and the constant aching dread of worrying about ‘will this be the week I have to choose between food or bills’. There have been times where I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of the responsibilities on my shoulders. There have been times I’ve needed to run to the sanctuary of my friends across state, and had a panic attack on the way back home from the weight returning to it’s place on my shoulders.

My name is Zoe, I am 14 and live in New South Wales. One unique thing about me is the fact that my family all think I am some kind of animal whisperer

I have been caring for my mum for 2 years. My mum requires care because she has Multiple Sclerosis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. I have to care mum because sometimes she needs it and all the time she needs people to be there for her. However, I also have to stay back from school some mornings if she is not feeling well. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to remind people of things and help them do certain things.

Being away from my mother makes me feel bad, like I am letting her down sometimes. Being a carer has changed my life because it has helped with my relationship with mum. Because of my caring role I am sometimes unable to have my own space and time.

Being a carer has taught me that life, time and your relationships with people are all vital to life! I would cope better with my caring role if my brothers could help sometimes

I would like others to realise that MS and AS are not just four letters, they are life impacting diseases. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is, the people you are caring for are being vulnerable with you, and that should only make you love them more.

Greetings and Salutation! My name is Belinda, I am 16 and live in Queensland. One unique thing about me is my fascination of history and human behaviour.

I have been caring for my mother for 5 years. My mother requires care because she suffers from a diagnosed physical disability. This has now been broadly labelled as 'Chronic Pain Syndrome'. My little sister also has ASD and ADD. I have to care for my family because my ex-step-father could not handle the responsibilities of caring for his unwell spouse (my mother) and his overwhelming daughter (my sister), so I was left to pick up the pieces after he left.

However, I also have to motivate my mother to keep studying to complete her bachelors. Her mind and intellect needs to be exercised just as much as her body. My 5-year-old sister also just received her diagnosis of ASD so this essentially means I am a young carer to two members in my household, where it is only my mother, my sister and I who live together. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to care for their younger siblings as well.

A good day caring for my family looks like not having to stress before and during an outdoor excursion and bad day caring for my family looks like not having enough time in a day. In all honesty, being away from my family makes me feel guilty.

Being a carer has changed my life because I have had to take on a much bigger responsibility than most of my peers have to. Because of my caring role I am unable to have as much time to complete assignments for school, and I am constantly missing content for exams from the time I have to dedicate to my family.

Being a carer has taught me to appreciate the small things in life. I would cope better with my caring role if I could have some independence when I get older, but hopefully things will be different in time.

I would like others to realise that you don't always have to succeed. You are allowed to fail, whether it be at school or in life, as long as you keep going and get through it. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is each second is one moment in time, and eventually you will be in a different moment in time and you will get to where you want to be, as long as you are patient with time.

I wish everybody good luck in their journey as a young carer.
Belinda

My name is Casey, I am 18 and live in Queensland. One unique thing about me is that I have lots of experience with technology.

I have been caring for my mother for 13 years. My mother requires care because she has Parkinson's disease and is unable to perform most functions. I have to care for my mother because she is my family and I care about her. However, I also have to focus on school studies in order to pass. Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to spend a lot of time caring for their family and friends.

A good day caring for my mother is when she is not feeling as sick as usual and not requiring much assistance. While a bad day caring for my mother is when she is feeling worse than usual and needing a lot more help.

Being away from my mother makes me feel extremely anxious due to the thought that if something bad were to happen to her, I would not be around to help her.

Being a carer has changed my life because spending a lot of my time helping out my mother meant not much time to build friendships. Because of my caring role I am unable to spend as much time with friends or doing my own thing.

Being a carer has taught me that when the going gets tough, all you can really do is keep going. I would cope better with my caring role if I could take a little bit of time off every now and then. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is to never give up, you are doing a truly amazing thing for the people you are caring for.

Hi! I am Cristina and I am 22 years of age. I have been a young carer all my life providing special care to my parents. My parents both have disabilities in which my dad is blind and my mum is hearing impaired.

Throughout my entire life, I have been a support and guide to my parents as I attend doctors’ appointments, do the weekly shopping and help out with the daily tasks. Growing up was difficult as I was not able to do things what most kids did, as I watched my friends be able to play sports and find their passion in life.

I had to grow up so fast and become a very mature person at a young age, due to having extra responsibilities. However, I am very appreciative of the life I have been given and I would not have it any other way as this is all I know. I have and still love providing care for my parents as they have ensured I take all opportunities that come my way.

I find myself always putting others before me, wanting to make sure everybody is happy. It is a trait that sometimes makes myself be vulnerable at times as people can take advantage of your caring nature. Do not let anyone change who you are as a person and achieve to be the best version of yourself.

My name is Chloe, I am 19 and live in Western Australia. One unique thing about me is I'm allergic to some plants haha.

I have been caring for my brother for 12 years. My brother requires care because he has autism, is very high needs and requires assistance with every day abilities. I have to care for my brother because he needs this assistance and my parents can't be there for him 24/7.

He can't do these daily activities on his own or be left by himself so the extra care and help is needed so in some regard I didn't have a choice, however I love him to death so of course I will do things to help where I can and allow our family to function as normal as possible. However, I also have to help with toilet duties / other personal care aspects.

It makes me anxious sometimes, knowing someone else is caring for him other than myself or my mum because we obviously know him best and know how to approach situations he deals with. Knowing he has to sometimes be left to someone else’s care does make us feel anxious and worry about him at times depending.

Being a carer has changed my life because it has taught me how much we take for granted in our everyday abilities in healthy bodies and it has taught me so much patience and understanding. Being a carer has taught me so much about patience and enjoying the simple things in life because seeing him so happy over the smallest things and just happy to be healthy and having a good day really brightens up all of our moods.

I would cope better with my caring role if I learned how to be a bit more patient and was better at multitasking haha. Sometimes I struggle to do the work and things I need to do when I have other responsibilities and worries on my mind regarding my brother.

I would like others to realise that life isn't always easy and you never truly know what other families and people may be going through. Everyone should treat each other kindly as you never know what goes on behind closed doors in every household and what goods and bads they have been through. As well as this I think it’s important to make the most of life and be so grateful that we are healthy and living and don't take for granted how lucky we are to be able to be carers and not need to be cared for ourselves personally.

My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is keep doing what you are doing! Because you are awesome and without you, the person you care for wouldn't be the person they are today! It takes a strong, patient and beautiful person to care for others, and you should always remind yourself that you are incredible!

Hello friends. My name is Mohammad and I’ve been a carer since my grandmother and grandfather lived with us. They both had terminal illness with my nan having Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and died in 2013 and my pop had bowel cancer and died in 2010. I was only 10 then.

By the time they both passed, I had to be a carer and help my mum with my older sister who has bipolar, body dysmorphia and ADHD and is always suicidal. Then mum adopted my other sister who is also a troubled teen and has low self-esteem and is tremendously suicidal.

After all those years I had trouble with school and interacting with friends. Numerous times police would attend our property as my older sister would smash everything around the house while she has her attacks. I’m sad that mum had to pick up the pieces. It was totally impossible to concentrate and I became very isolated for some years before I was able to bring my friends home to hang out.

Since my older sister gave birth to a baby girl, mum had to think about our safety first and put my older sister on medication and rehabilitation. Now my niece is 3 and I feel safe and mum has been less stressed. She suffers from depression which escalates to severe migraines and vertigo. As it’s a huge responsibility for her to maintain her sanity and responsibility on her own, I step in and gave her my unconditional love and helped with chores and babysit my niece so mum can have respite.

From time to time, it’s been a long journey for me and I have stayed strong physically and mentally stable. I couldn’t ask for anything more or change my situation as I feel very proud and overwhelmed to provide the care and responsibility that I feel rewarded. Thanks to the young carers network and young bursary, I am able to have a life and tell my story.

It has been a rewarding experience to see my niece grow up and mum being less stressed. However, her health condition is not to great. The bad news is that I suffer from the same condition as mum. I suffer severe migraines myself and at times I couldn’t even get up for up to 2 days. Mum just soldiers on and I admire her for being so strong coping with all these misfortunes and I learn to be a stronger person. Again thank you for reading my story. I believe tomorrow will always be a better day.

My name is Breeanna, I am 17 and live in Western Australia. One unique thing about me is I care for others before I care for myself.

I have been caring for my brother for 7 years. My brother requires care because he has autism and global development delay.

I have to care for my brother because I live with him every day and it’s a way of supporting my mum when she is working.

My responsibilities include providing to his needs, assisting in situations and providing food. However, I also deal with his mental breakdowns which involves me making sure his safety is a priority.

Just like me I’d imagine other young carers would also have to deal with people staring at them in shops because a child is in a breakdown.

A good day caring for my brother looks like laughing, smiling and calm. A bad day caring for my brother looks like emotional, loud and disruptive.

Being away from my brother makes me feel anxious.

Being a carer has changed my life because its shown me what I really am made for. Being a carer has taught me this is what I love. Because of my caring role I am unable to make people understand the troubles I go through in life.

I would cope better with my caring role if I had more time in a day.

I would like others to realise that you’re not alone. My piece of advice to my fellow young carers is let them stare.

I am 17 years old and I have been a young carer for most of my life. I currently care for my brother and father with the help of my mother and older brother.

It started with my younger brother who was diagnosed with autism. As we are only a year apart I helped him at school when my family wasn't around. After two car accidents and spinal surgery gone wrong, my father went into a wheelchair permanently as a quadriplegic. This is when I officially took the title as a young carer.

Life isn't always easy caring for two people but I do get lots of support from my mother and older brother. I have so many ambitions for my future and I believe my role as a young carer has made me want them more and work harder. While yes sometimes I fall behind at school or get in a bad state of mind due to my caring role I would not change a thing.

Being a young carer has made me stronger mentally and my goal is to support other young people who are struggling to balance their carer life and everyday life as I have. Young carers have so much potential to do great things as we are naturally caring and wanting to help. I know these are great qualities to have and I don't know if I would have them if I wasn't a carer.

Growing up you learn something new every day. Being the oldest child and only girl, it is evident that I should support my family. My dad had a very severe accident at work just under two years ago now. I help him all the time.

It’s sometimes hard for me to juggle all this and study. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but knowing I’m helping my dad makes me feel good on the inside. My dad is a very hardworking man, he worked hard his entire life, and unfortunately he got injured at the age of 42.

We sometimes miss out on fun activities due to his injuries, but we always improvise. God is with us. I at times feel so good after helping my dad. I help him with very different things. It brings us closer together.

We get a few giggles out of my dad, and when he worked many hours before his injury, I really didn’t spend much time with him at all and hardly spent any time with him. So positive things have happened since his injury.

I love my dad, he’s fun, got older much earlier than he should have. I try my best to maintain my studies, but sometimes I honestly miss out on study time. But I’m positive always, it’s a good day every day.

I am 16 years old and help look after my brain damaged uncle. I have been helping for around 7 years now and it is amazing at how far my uncle and family have come so far.

We have moved around heaps and it at first was a bit of a struggle because I had to juggle depression and helping everyone so things run smoothly. We have also done lots of travelling to W.A and back, camping along the way.

There was a lot to do and that’s when my depression got the worst. Just recently we moved to Lake Bennet for a few months. There was no house where we lived so we camped in tents and an old caravan. I often went on lone trips during my lunch breaks to collect wood to heat up the fire for showers and also for dinner and my uncle’s cups of tea.

My depression has improved over the years and so has my uncle’s disadvantages. He can remember a lot better and he has lost a lot of weight over the years. We are travelling around Australia soon so there will be plenty of times to help out and I can’t wait to see how everything goes over the years.

You are the love to my heart, the passion in my heart. You are the happiness in my smile and the drive in my passion.

You’re the my first thought in the morning and the last thought at night.

You have taught me so much, I have learnt how to live, appreciate and accept.

I thank you for what you have taught me, what we have experienced and for what us to come.

Because of you, I am who I am today, and for that, I am grateful.

I am 16 years old and I look after my mum. Since we live by ourselves I have to look after her because of her medical conditions which can be hard to do so being able to go out with young carers is helpful by taking away all the stress I have.

Being around other kids who are going through the same things as I go through is a great help plus I get to hang out with the kids and go on activities and camps and enjoy having some time to chill.

Young carers also helped me stay at school so I can still learn and get an education which has also helped in out of school activities. I’ve also had help in reaching my goal of getting my driver’s license and help with driving lessons. I’m looking forward to being able to drive my mum around to her appointments and to do the shopping.

I enjoy caring for my mum. It made me learn responsibilities quicker and helped me find my passion for cooking. I now get to study hospitality next year at school and my goal is to be a chef. I did a cooking class with my young carers team, it went for 5 weeks and was really fun, I learnt a lot at the class.