Young Carers

The Speaking Out Survey (SOS) is a comprehensive survey of children's wellbeing in WA, providing valuable insights for both government and non-government organisations to guide policies and programs. It is the only state-wide survey in Australia tracking the wellbeing of children and young people over time.

In 2025, more than 17,000 children and young people shared their experiences across key areas of wellbeing. Our team travelled across Western Australia to engage with them face-to-face, ensuring their voices were heard in their own communities.

This snapshot focuses on young carers: children and young people who provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend.

What is a young carer?

A young carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to family member/s or friends with a disability, a physical or mental illness, a substance dependency, or someone who is aged.

They might do things like helping their family get around, take medicine, or provide emotional support when they are upset. This is a big responsibility and happens regularly. Without the help of the young carer, they would be unable to live independently.

* It is important to note that while we added instructions stating this did not refer to looking after pets, we still received many questions as children were unsure.

More from Speaking Out Survey 2025

Return to the SOS 2025 page to see all available snapshots and find out when the full report will be released.