A young carer is someone under the age of 18 years who provides regular and ongoing care to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled, elderly or misuses substances. A young carer will take on additional responsibilities to those appropriate to their age and development. Young carers may be primary carers, such as caring for a parent, or a secondary carer, such as helping to care for a sibling. A young carer becomes vulnerable when the level of care-giving and responsibility to the person in need of care becomes excessive or inappropriate for that child and risks jeopardising their emotional or physical wellbeing, educational achievement and life chances.

A young carer may undertake some or all of the following:
• Practical tasks
• Physical care
• Personal and intimate care
• Emotional support
• Household management
• Looking after siblings
• Interpretation
• Administering medication
• Taking responsibility of younger siblings
• Financial care