Health · Mental Health · 10 hrs ago
Young carers in Western Australia say care duties limit their childhood and studies
An estimated 40,000 young people in Western Australia care for family members.
Sara Qalandari began caring for her family at age 10, after they arrived in WA as refugees.
She helps her mother with medical appointments and supports her brother, who has a congenital visual impairment.
Qalandari says these responsibilities have made it harder to pursue her studies and aim for medical school.
A national carers survey found that 65 per cent of young carers aged 12 to 25 felt they had lost their childhood, compared with 54 per cent last year.
Qalandari is calling for more recognition and support in education and healthcare, and a fairer pathway into medical training for carers and people with disabilities.
She says connecting young carers with support and with one another early could help them manage their responsibilities and goals.
An estimated 40,000 young people in Western Australia are carers, and some say their responsibilities limit their childhood and education.
Sara Qalandari began caring for her family at age 10 after they migrated to Western Australia as refugees.
She says care duties have made it difficult to compete for a place in medical school.
A national survey found that 65 per cent of young carers aged 12 to 25 felt they had lost their childhood, up from 54 per cent the previous year.
Qalandari says young carers need earlier recognition and support in education and healthcare.
- Who
- Young carers in Western Australia, including Sara Qalandari.
- What
- They say caring duties can limit their childhood, social lives and studies.
- When
- Qalandari began caring at age 10. The article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Western Australia.
- Why
- Family members’ health and support needs lead young people to take on caring responsibilities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I go to all the appointments – NDIS, Centrelink, schools, doctors, I basically take care of all of that
I’m really devastated about that because it’s very unfair that we have to choose between our career and care responsibilities, it shouldn’t be that way.
We need more awareness and recognition of young carers in the education system and in the healthcare system very early on – that’s how they can get the support they need and be connected with other young carers from the start.
Qalandari began caring for her family after they migrated to Western Australia as refugees.
Qalandari completed a degree in biomedical sciences.
Qalandari said she found out she had been a young carer and met others with similar experiences.
The article reported that Carers Australia had released its national Carers Wellbeing Survey.
- Estimated young carers in WA
- 40,000
- Qalandari began caring
- Age 10
- Biomedical sciences degree completed
- 2022
- Young carers who felt they had lost their childhood
- 65 per cent, up from 54 per cent the previous year
- Survey age range
- 12 to 25
Sources
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