Young Carers (YC) Program was developed to provide youth-centric carer supports in Western Australia. This unique service focuses on improving the social and emotional wellbeing of young people who support a family member living with disability, mental health challenges, chronic health conditions or terminal illness, substance dependency or who is frail due to age. In addition to accessing services offered by Carer Gateway (an adult-centric service), clients of the Young Carers Program can receive a youth needs assessment and peer support in schools.

A mixed-methods impact evaluation was completed to assess the extent to which the provision of YC Program activities and services improve outcomes in the short, medium, and longer terms.

Ten themes were identified after analysing the available data: 

• increased awareness 
• increased knowledge of YC roles and responsibilities
• increased wellbeing
• being prepared and equipped
• effective communication
• inclusivity
• increased quality of life
• knowledge of school and career pathways
• improved family relationships, and 
• improved confidence in help-seeking. 

Demonstrated outcomes included an increased awareness of parents in how to support YCs.

Recommendations from this evaluation include increasing awareness of YCs and their wellbeing through advocating for YC recognition at the systems level including the WA Parliament and within the WA Department of Education.  There is also need for advocacy of YC aged under 14 due to a current lack of appropriate services for this age group.

Trauma informed training for YC staff, and additional resourcing allowing staff to be able to service YC in both metropolitan and regional areas and would facilitate staff wellbeing. The Program is meeting its overall aims, but due to the increase in demand in recent years, an immediate injection of resources is required to head off the potential increase in wait times, allow for the support of all YCs, and to prevent YC “falling through the cracks”.