How can we help?

We work to improve the health, wellbeing, resilience and financial security of carers, and to ensure that caring is a shared responsibility of family, community and government.

Carer Wellbeing Survey

National Carer Strategy

Young Carers Network

Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative

National Carers Week

  • Who we are

    Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, advocating on their behalf to influence policies and services at a national level.

    Carers Australia recognises and values employees who have an unpaid caring responsibility and the contribution they make to the health and wellbeing of the people they care for.

    We are a Care-Inclusive Workplace!

    What we do

    Carers Australia advocates and lobbies on a wide range of issues that affect carers. We also manage the delivery of national programs, support and services for carers across Australia.

    We work in collaboration with carers, Carers Associations, government and peak bodies to develop policy, advocacy, programs and events to improve the lives of Australia’s 3 million carers.

  • Who is a carer?

    Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.

    What does a carer do?

    Commonly, carers are responsible for the management of medications. Carers provide emotional, social or financial support. Caring may also involve helping the person they are caring for to be organised, reminding them to attend appointments and dealing with emergencies.

    Carers provide 2.2 billion hours of unpaid care per year in Australia

    There are currently 3 million unpaid carers in Australia

    The replacement value of the unpaid care provided is $77.9 billion per year in Australia

    287,000 primary carers provide 40 hours or more of unpaid care per week

  • Article
    Hoyts Carer Concession

    19 February 2026

    Hoyts Cinemas has again renewed its agreement with Carers Australia for 2026 to offer discounts to carers who attend movie sessions with the person they care for.
    Carers National News
    Carers National News – 5 September 2025

    5 September 2025

    Article
    Survey: Support-at-Home program changes

    26 August 2025

    A Support-at-Home program begins 1 November and will retain many features of the Home Care Packages program. But there will be changes. It's estimated nearly 90,000 people approved for the Home Care Packages are on the waiting list, and many others are waiting to transition to the new package. If you’re in this situation, and if this means you, we’d like to add your voice to the conversation.
  • Media Release
    NDIS changes will shift costs and responsibilities to carers

    12 June 2026 – 307.76 KB

    Commenting on the submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, Carers Australia CEO Joanna Cave said eligibility, reassessment and support changes will push costs and responsibilities on to carers, and greater reliance on them risks accelerating burnout.
    Submission
    Carers Australia Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

    12 June 2026 – 1.06 MB

    Carers Australia supports reforms to improve the integrity and sustainability of the Scheme, and acknowledges that there are some areas where the NDIS is not operating as originally intended. However, Carers Australia is concerned that the proposed changes will have a profound impact on the lives of family and friend carers. The submission outlines key considerations on the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026, emphasising long-term sustainability without shifting costs to carers by including carer in co-design processes, stronger impact analysis, cost control levers, continuity safeguards, fair eligibility, reassessment pathways, and inclusive co design.
    Report
    Federal Budget 2026-27: What it means for carers

    14 May 2026 – 658.54 KB

    The Federal Budget 2026-27 is a mixed bag for carers. Commitments to fund workplace carer supports and additional investment in aged care will benefit carers. However, the reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), designed to improve the integrity and sustainability of the scheme, will see costs and responsibilities shift to carers.