From childhood to her teens, the 17-year-old has informally cared for her mother, who suffers from permanent injury and mental illness.

"Sometimes it's hard because I don't get me time to just relax and escape my day-to-day life," she said.

"I'm always there for my mum, I don't see it as a job. I just take it upon myself."

Ms Pellegrini is one of an estimated 307,700 carers under the age of 24 across Australia, a large portion of the total 2.86 million caring workforce.

It's a tough role, constant, often stressful and under-recognised, and can limit participation in work and at school.

Carers provide a service that would cost $60 billion a year to replace nationally, and their value will only grow as Australia's population continues to age.

Ms Pellegrini was one of two carers to speak at a Carers ACT pre-election function on Wednesday, which was attended by representatives from the three major political parties, including Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

Carers ACT chief executive officer Dee McGrath urged the parties to commit to developing a strategy to better support the 48,500 unpaid carers across the city.

She said developing such a strategy would help to recognise the "vital contribution carers make to our community and economy".

"Most other Australian governments have a carers strategy, a carer plan or carer recognition legislation that sets out actions and responsibilities for government, its agencies and other services on how to support carers in their caring role," she said.

"However, the ACT government is still to implement a similar strategy or plan in the ACT."

Ms Pellegrini, for her part, wants to see a system that works with schools to better identify, bring together, and support young carers.

Mr Barr, Liberal Shadow Disability Minister Andrew Wall, and Greens candidate Veronica Wensing all spoke to the dozens of carers gathered at the National Convention Centre on Wednesday.

The Liberals made a commitment to develop such a strategy after the event, although Mr Wall promised only to commission research on support gaps for carers during his speech at the function.

Mr Barr said he would look closely at the Carers ACT proposal, and outline Labor's position in coming weeks.

"Today was about raising issues, giving the political parties time to give a considered response," he said.

"We will respond in the coming weeks and ... people will understand the detail of our position before polling day."

Ms Wensing said the Greens would go further than developing a strategy, and would provide proper resourcing and supports to carers.