Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged.
12.4% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population are carers, compared to 10.5% of the non-Indigenous Australian population.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers living in regional, rural, and remote areas often experience:
- language and cultural barriers
- geographic barriers in accessing health and welfare services
- and may face barriers to health literacy;
The environmental, social and economic impacts of living in these areas can often affect caring.