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Carers

Carers

  • There are more than 857,000 carers in NSW
  • Young carers have lower education participation and attainment rates than their peers
  • Studies show that carers are more likely to experience physical and mental ill health   and disability than the general population
  • 1 in 8 Aboriginal people in NSW are carers

In our lifetime, most of us are likely to either provide care to a family member or friend, or to need care ourselves.

The work that unpaid carers do is essential to the wellbeing of our society and economy. There is research however, that shows that carers have much lower health and wellbeing than other demographic groups.

Improving support for carers should concern the entire community and with more than 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia, chances are you, or someone you know, may be a career!
Carers see themselves as ordinary people who would like the broader community to understand that caring is both rewarding and often challenging. It is important to unpaid carers that the care role is recognised by the community.

There are many people in Australia who provide care and do not recognise themselves as carers. This means that these people are not currently accessing the services and supports that are available to them.

Who is a carer?

Carers are family members, partners or friends who provide ongoing unpaid support to people who need it because of their disability, chronic illness, mental ill-health, dementia or frail age. Carers support people to live independent lives, to remain in their own homes and in their own communities. This care is fundamental to family life and our community wellbeing.

NSW Carers Recognition Act 2010

Recognition of carers is gradually improving. For example, the NSW Carers (Recognition) Act 2010 and the NSW Carers Charter place obligations on NSW Government agencies to recognise and value carers and ensure carers are consulted on policy matters that impact on them.

The Act includes a set of principles about the significance of care relationships, and specifies obligations for State Government agencies, local councils, and other organisations that interact with people in care relationships.

Carers Week 2015 (11 October – 17 October)

Carers Week is the key national awareness-raising week for Australia’s carers. Carers Week is a national celebration of the 2.7 million unpaid carers in our community who care for a loved one. Carers can be husbands, wives, children, friends, grandparents, employers or employees. There are well over 300,000 carers aged under 24 years. We want all Australians to know them - who they are, what they do and how they can be supported. 

Carers week is a chance to say Thank you to all the wonderful carers out in the local community!      For more information to to Carers Week Website: http://carersaustralia.com.au/eventscarers-week-2015/carers-week-2015/

Useful contacts for Carers

Carers NSW Care Line
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre
Dementia Behaviour Advisory Service
National Dementia Advisory Service
Mental Health Line
Community Care Access Point (referral for community aged care services)
Disability Care Australia
Beyond Blue
  • Phone - 1300 224 636      (24 hours, 7 days a week)
  • Webchat - daily between 4pm and      10pm
  • Website - www.beyondblue.org.au
Salvo Care Line
  • Phone - 1300 363 622      (24 hours, 7 days a week)
  • Website - www.salvos.org.au