For Young Carers, the intricate balance between supporting loved ones facing mental, physical ill-health, and/or disability while navigating the complexities of growing up has its challenges. In this pair of emotive illustrations, artist Ziggy Grana conveys the Young Carers shared lived experiences, shedding light on the duality between responsibility and identity, and emphasising the crucial pursuit of rest and joy.

 

This expression is a collaboration with Carer Gateway’s first advisory group consisting exclusively of young people, all who have personal experience supporting loved, close and/or lost ones with mental, physical ill-health and/or disability. Young carers play a vital role in society that often goes unnoticed, and this expression encompasses their diverse commitments and roles, with each advocate's story interwoven into the artwork. It celebrates their multifaceted identities, where their caring role is intertwined with their passions, choices, and selfhood. Sharing their perspectives and reflecting on how their journeys have shaped them as individuals, young carers emphasise that their caring roles and responsibilities defy a single definition. It showcases the challenges of navigating the demands of being a carer to a loved-one, whilst simultaneously exploring their identities as young people and individuals.  

 

This project was part of VISIBLE – Pairing young people with artists to shine a light on their experiences of mental health challenges. Visible is a project co-designed and delivered by Australian Youth Advocates for Mental Health supported by headspace National. You can find out more about the project on the website here:

 

https://visible.org.au/

 

“Being a young carer has shaped me into the person I am today and I wouldn’t change it”.