Young Carers Research Project: Final Report 

• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Definition of the Target Group
• 3. Methodology
• 4. Findings of the Research
• 4.1 Number of Young Carers
• 4.2 Characteristics of Young Carers
• 4.3 Effects of Young Caring
• 4.4 Needs of Young Carers
• 4.5 Current Barriers to Service Access
• 5. Key Issues Emerging from the Research
• 5.1 Young Carers – A Significant, Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Group
• 5.2 Perceptions Affecting Policy and Service Responses to Young Carers
• 5.2.1 Identifying Young Carers
• 5.2.2 Appropriate Responses by Formal Services
• 5.3 Current Service Responses to Young Carers
• 5.3.1 Mainstream Service Responses
• 5.3.2 Specific Young Carer Service Responses
• 5.4 Areas for Policy and Service Development
• 5.4.1 What We Can Learn From Overseas
• 5.4.2 Overcoming Gaps That Have Emerged in Australia
• 5.5 Summary
• 6. Future Directions
• 6.1 Widespread programs and services specifically targeted to children and young people with caring responsibilities and their families
• 6.2 Specification of children and young people with caring responsibilities and their families as key client target groups of relevant mainstream services
• 6.3 Effective responses from key professionals to children or young people with caring responsibilities and to their families
• 6.4 Adequate income support for young carers and their families
• 6.5 Participation of children and young people with caring responsibilities in education, training and employment at rates approaching those of their peers who do not have caring responsibilities
• 6.6 Regular opportunities for social participation for children and young people with caring responsibilities and for their families
• 6.7 Commitment to a whole-of-government approach to address the key issues for children and young people with caring responsibilities and for their families
• 6.8 Priority research status for children and young people with caring responsibilities and their families to generate sound qualitative and quantitative research information
• 6.9 Improved understanding of the needs of children and young people with caring responsibilities within their own families
• 6.10 Increased community awareness of the needs of children and young people with caring responsibilities and of their families
• 7. Appendices
• 8. References

In recognition of the needs of young carers in our community, the Australian Government contracted the Carers Association of Australia (now Carers Australia) to undertake a Young Carers Research Project. The aim of the project was to investigate the number, characteristics and needs of young carers in Australia in relation to facilitating their social and economic participation in the community. The report was published in September 2002.