Out of the official 43,000 carers in the ACT, that's a staggering ratio nationally, one in 10 young people are responsible for the day to day welfare of a family member or members, with 170,600 of them under the age of 18.

Across Australia, there are about 380,000 young carers. As a definition, carers are those angels who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged.

They can also help with medications and appointments, shopping and even paying the bills, as well as watching out to make sure the person they're caring for is feeling okay.

It's a lot to ask but children, as most adults say, are resilient. Many of these young carers will simply grow into adulthood, continuing in this role.

Almost 500,000 of this country's 2.6 million carers are primary carers providing the most care, day in, day out and most of them women.

The tug of war between one's own life with its opportunities of independence and that of caring for a loved one who is dependent is a difficult and costly one all carers face.

A 2007 Deakin University study found that carers had the lowest health and well-being out of any group. Given that they spend on average about 40 hours a week caring, this is hardly surprising news - while among those who take care of a loved ones suffering from mental illness, this weekly toll goes up to about 104 hours per week.

Perhaps it is easier to have boundaries when you are an adult carer not so easy as a child or teenager.

For those still in school, the sacrifices start early.

Lori-Jean is a 15-year-old Canberran school girl the kind you might see loitering with mates in a shopping mall or giggling at the bus stop, with one exception. Her role as carer generally takes priority over her social life.