Gaps in public support for young carers: policies and young people’s experiences in Austria

Austria has been classified as ‘preliminary’ in terms of policies for young carers. Against this backdrop, we ask how young carers experience their situation, to what extent existing support measures meet their needs and what gaps remain. We demonstrate that the few measures addressing young carers specifically have mainly focused on providing information and counselling. In contrast, young carers underline the need for recognition of the diverse forms and particularities of young caring across various institutions and fields of practice and the implementation of policies that address the long-term implications and social risks associated with young caring.