The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals
More than 40.000 young people provide informal care in Austria. They are faced with particular challenges not least in terms of the transition into professional training, education and occupations. At the same time, they also gain particular skills through this activity. Scarce research and limited public awareness make it even more important to study the specific needs and preferences of young carers and young adult carers. The project addressed this need through empirical research on the needs and preferences regarding the transition into professional training, education and occupations as well as the identification of best practices for supporting those who provide informal care early in life.
The aim of the study was research that provides a foundation for the future improvement of the situation of young carers and young adult carers in Upper Austria.
Based on different surveys (Nagl-Cupal et al. 2015, UK Longitudinal Household Study, European Social Survey), it can be assumed that the number of young carers and young adult carers between the ages of 16 and 29 in Upper Austria was was between 21.662 and 44.791 individuals in 2022. Young carers and young adult carers felt left alone in several respects: with the care and support situation, through a lack of recognition of their role, and with their own needs independently of their caring role. The study described three good practices in more detail (carer passport, young carer bursay, flexibility in learning conditions).
Support measures can be distinguished into two categories: those which address young carers and young adult carers as a group (e.g. measures that support identification, sensitisation and awareness raising) and those which support them individually (counselling and psychological support, care skills training, financial support). Regarding support measures in the field of vocational orientation, training and education, schools have a key role (awareness raising, dealing with the impact of caregiving on educational achievements, vocational counselling). Existing measures include educational resources and educators to raise awareness and training for different professions working with children and adolescents. There are currently no measures to support young carers and young adult carers individually specifically regarding vocational orientation, training and education in Upper Austria.
The study included several recommendations for policymakers:
The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals