00:01It's been a rough few years for this young Perth couple.
00:05They've asked to remain anonymous, but we'll call them Chloe and Ross.
00:09After meeting in their early 20s, Chloe's health rapidly deteriorated.
00:13I just went from one day just working like normal to just not being able to do the things I
00:18was doing all the time.
00:19And it was just really confronting.
00:22Chloe was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which causes joint hypermobility.
00:27At 23, Ross had to defer uni to become her full-time carer.
00:32It was really difficult to see the person that I loved suddenly just not being able to do everything that
00:39she loved.
00:40Up until last year, Ross was getting support through Carers WA's Young Carers Program.
00:45But since turning 25, now considered an adult carer, he's struggled to access the same level of help.
00:52You get let down a lot as a carer and you have to manage your expectations.
00:58But this is like the one thing that I could rely on.
01:02We don't have family, we don't have friends.
01:05Ross recently re-enrolled in university and contacted Carers WA for help to purchase a laptop.
01:11They said they couldn't do it because there was a funding pause.
01:16But that if I was a young carer, they would have done it.
01:20Absolutely, it could have been handled better.
01:22And I think the choice of wording could have been used a lot better.
01:26And a timeframe as when we'll get back to you could have been provided.
01:29Carers WA says there is no funding pause, but there is unprecedented demand.
01:34This is probably the first time in our history we've actually said we've got more support that's required of us
01:41than we can deliver.
01:41And so we just have to prioritise and sometimes put people on a waitlist, which is a terrible thing.
01:48Carers WA is funded by the federal and state governments.
01:52WA's Minister for Community Services says WA is currently developing a new 10-year carers strategy, which will be informed
02:00by listening to carers.
02:02Carers were saving the government so much money.
02:07I think a lot of us are really at breaking point.
02:13Carers have a great deal.
02:17You
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