Recognising the contributions of Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers

Help raise awareness this National Carers Week by visiting the National Carers Week website and telling us why you care!

National Carers Week 2018 (14 – 20 October) is a time to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution that Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers make to our nation. 

This year we’re asking all unpaid carers to Tell Us Why You Care so that we can highlight the realities of caring to all Australians and help build a carer-friendly Australia. We also ask all non-carers, businesses and organisations to tell us why you care about unpaid carers, as a means to demonstrate community support for all they do. 

1 in 8 Australians provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail aged. Carers make an enormous contribution to our communities as well as our national economy and National Carers Week provides you with a chance to show your appreciation. 

You can also help raise awareness by rounding up workmates, friends and family for a National Carers Week event, drawing attention to who carers are, what they do and how they can access services and supports. 

Organise a morning or afternoon tea, fundraiser or workshop to raise awareness of the diversity of carers and the roles they perform, and take advantage of the opportunity to inform friends and colleagues of the support services available to carers. 

Visit www.carersweek.com.au for more information on how you can Tell Us Why You Care and get involved! You can also help spread the word through your social media channels with the hashtags #Carers2018 and #WhyWeCare 

Carer-Related Statistics

There are over 2.7 million carers in Australia who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged.

• 272,000 carers are under the age of 25, which equates to around 1-in-10.
• It is estimated that carers provided 1.9 billion hours of unpaid in 2015. 
• The replacement value of that care (the cost were it provide by paid care workers) is estimated at $60.3 billion – over $1 billion per week, or 3.8% of GDP.
• The demand for unpaid carers is at an all-time high and set to increase in the future.
• The weekly median income of primary carers aged 15 – 64 was 42% lower than that of non-carers.