“My son received his diagnosis for autism when he was 2 years 8 months old in 2013. We were living in New Delhi, India, at that time. As I plunged deeper into the study of his diagnoses, my waking hours became consumed by reading, consulting, and observing anything that would equip me in helping my son with his daily challenges. Motherhood morphed into full time carer, therapist, researcher, nurse, liaison officer and coordinator of a team of therapists. When we moved to Canberra in 2016, these roles became even more expanded with the management of my son’s NDIS funding. I was now also a de facto case manager and employer of a team of essential workers who assist my son in numerous ways. Another role that has increasingly grown organically is I was now his advocate – in educational settings, in playgrounds, in birthday parties, in church, in family gatherings, in malls, in therapy centres, and in the community at large.

It is more than a decade since I became my son’s primary carer – untrained, unsupervised and I believe, put through a baptism by fire. It has been isolating, nerve-racking and full of challenges, but as I have grown into the role, I have come to embrace my identity as a carer. I have connected with a small community of other carers – a place to share trials as well as celebrations. Carer advocacy bodies, which in my case has been Carers ACT, have been a source of support. However, when I step beyond the margins of the carer community, there is complete ignorance by the wider community, health care professionals, educational institutions, and workplaces about this role and what it encompasses for the individual carer. A lack of understanding of the caring experience further risks cementing the social isolation, mental health decline and well-being of the carer.

My hope is that this film will allow community at large to see, hear, recognise and be made aware of who the carer in their extended family, their circle of friends, their colleague or neighbour really is. Welcome to Unconditional.”