Helping those who help others
The new series “Austria is helping!” presents aid organisations and other institutions that promote the welfare of others and provide valuable support.
Young carers is a term used to designate children and young people under the age of 18 who regularly and for long periods take care of sick family members or family members in need of support. At present there are around 43,000 young people providing this kind of care, 70 per cent of whom are female. The average age is 12.5 years old. They do more than their peers around the house, provide care and look after younger siblings, and consequently carry a lot of responsibility on their shoulders, even if they often do not realise the extent of it. This can be a heavy burden to bear: common problems among young carers include fatigue, stress at school or constantly worrying about others. Questions such as how to deal with a situation, what is to be done in the event of an emergency or where they can get help often arise.
This is where “Young Carers Austria” comes in, an app and platform set up by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. It provides information and contact details for places that the affected children and young people can turn to for support, because young carers also need someone to care for them and to show them the appreciation that they deserve for the difficult service they are providing. The QR code on the stamp takes you to the website, where you can find more information.
