If you're not sure what to expect from a service or want to know how it looks in real life, take it from some of our awesome participants! These are real-life examples of how tailored supports have helped young carers just like you.
What does the caring life look like? (YouTube 2:20 mins)
Sarah’s story
My name is Sarah and I am a Young Carer. I am 9 years old and I help support my mum. I help her with tidying up the house and I cheer her up when she feels sad. Mum finds it hard to leave the house so I find things we can do at home which we both enjoy, like drawing or watching our cat chase her toys. My friends at school don’t really understand why I need to be at home and why I can’t always play on the weekend which makes me feel lonely.
John’s story
My name is John I am 15 years old. I am a full-time Carer for my grandmother who is an amputee and in a wheelchair. I help my granny with her day-to-day needs, I cook, clean, and go to the shops for groceries. I go with her to most of her doctor and hospital appointments as we don’t have a lot of support. I was starting to fall behind in school, due to missing days and I was also very tired all the time. I connected with Carers SA who contacted my school and explained what my life is like out of school. This has helped me get more support from my teachers. My teachers check in on me now a lot and help me catch up with subjects that I am behind in. I also go and see the wellbeing counsellor for some time out whenever I feel sad or tired.
Jayden’s story — Ride a Bike Right Program
Jayden* wanted to become more independent, and cycling was a big step toward that goal. With support, he joined the Ride a Bike Right Program — a fun and practical way to learn how to ride safely and confidently on the road. With help from experienced instructors, Jayden picked up important skills like using hand signals, understanding traffic rules, and planning safe routes. Along the way, he grew more confident, felt better about himself, and found more freedom, all while managing his responsibilities as a young carer. His story shows how the right support can really make a difference in building both skills and self-belief.
* Not his real name
Frankie’s Story
My name is Frankie, I am 23 and I am a full-time Carer for my mother, Jane. Mum has Parkinson’s, mobility issues and a heart condition. I help mum with moving around as she cannot walk far on her own and needs my support. I help with the cooking, cleaning, laundry and attending mums’ appointments. Due to mum’s heart condition, being cold can affect her, so I keep an eye on her to make sure she is ok. This can be stressful at times. The stress and worry of my caring role was really starting to impact my mental health and I was worried all the time. After I was told about Carers SA I reached out to them and spoke to the Young Carer Team. I was able to tell them about what was happening for me and they helped connect me with a counsellor. I also caught up with their worker for coaching and we worked on linking me with other supports and finding a part time job. Knowing I have wrap around support of people who care is so comforting and makes me feel less alone.
Michael’s story
My name is Michael and I am 17. I am a Young Carer and I help care for my two younger sisters, both have been diagnosed with Autism. I help take them to school and pick them up when my parents are at work. I help them with their homework when I am doing mine, it is a little routine we have now. Dinner and bedtimes are often pretty hard at home, so I help with cooking or with my sisters get ready for bed to make things easier for Mum and Dad. I know that I get stressed pretty easy because I am always worried about what is happening at home. I also started to miss a lot of school after mum became unwell too. I hadn’t spoken to anyone at the school about what was happening, I didn’t realise it would make a difference.
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