Taha and Waled care for their older brother, Ahmed, who lives with autism and ADHD. They are two of more than 390,000 young carers in Australia.
From a young age, Taha and Waled have been there for their brother, supporting him emotionally and helping him with day-to-day tasks.
“I think the age I realised that I was doing more than other people was probably like 11 or 12.” Taha explains. “I noticed how my friends acted around their older brothers when they picked them up from school and stuff and I realised how they act different than my brother.”
“I realised I was a carer when I had to put even more effort than I thought I would to help my brother meet his needs and make him feel more comfortable,” says Waled.
Many young carers provide essential emotional support for their loved one.
“Sometimes we help with his sensory needs,” Waled explains. “Sometimes he needs to just do something, just interact with people. We play games with him. I help manage his behaviour sometimes.”
“It’s not a challenge but rather a blessing. One day you’ll see the outcomes and see how much you changed their life.”
The video is part of our Caring Through Pictures campaign which aims to highlight some of the unique experiences and stories of carers support through the Carer Gateway program.
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers, including young carers like Taha and Waled. To learn more about supports available, click the link below.
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