Media Release

Caring Costs Us report finds average lost earnings and superannuation is over $567,000

21 April 2022 – 220.57 KB

New analysis released today has revealed the huge financial disadvantage Australia’s 2.65 million carers face when they take on a caring role − amounting to more than $567,000 on average in lost earnings and superannuation. Caring Costs Us: The economic impact on lifetime income and retirement savings of informal carers – a report for Carers Australia completed by economic consulting practice Evaluate has found that Australian carers on average forego $392,500 in lost wages to age 67 and miss out on a further $175,000 in superannuation.

Media Release

Who cares for carers? Not this budget

30 March 2022 – 196.29 KB

Unpaid family and friend carers saved the Australian economy $77.9 billion in 2020. That was before COVID and the impacts on the community it brought with it. Yet these 2.65 million Australians were completely forgotten in last night’s Budget, with no dedicated new funding provided for their financial support, respite, or wellbeing.

Media Release

Let’s be clear on the value of carers

10 March 2022 – 186.26 KB

The Disability Royal Commission has released an overview of responses to the violence and abuse of people with disability issues paper which highlighted cases in which ‘carers’ were perpetrators of abuse.

Media Release

Productivity Commission Inquiry into Carers Leave welcome but it must be for all carers

24 February 2022 – 228.12 KB

Carers Australia welcomes the Treasurer’s announcement that the Productivity Commission has been asked to undertake an Inquiry into the merits of extending leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act to family and friend carers of older Australians, which was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (ACRC).

Media Release

Carers Australia Welcomes New CEO

24 February 2022 – 147.98 KB

Carers Australia Chairperson Mr Steve Sant is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Alison Brook as Chief Executive Officer for the national peak body organisation, effective 8 May 2022.

Media Release

New Visitation Guidelines for Residential Aged Care

14 February 2022 – 207.46 KB

Aged care consumer peak bodies, led by Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, have welcomed National Cabinet’s endorsement of new visitation guidelines for residential aged care that strike a balance between the public health risks of Covid-19 and the essential emotional and physical care provided to residents by their loved ones.

Media Release

Who cares for carers?

28 January 2022 – 189.34 KB

Carers Australia and the National Carer Network are calling on all political parties to commit to addressing the needs of Australia’s 2.65 million carers ahead of the Federal Election in 2022 as outlined in a Federal Election Platform and 2022-23 Budget submission.

Media Release

Joint statement on Equal Access to Assistive Technology

25 January 2022 – 2.54 MB

We call on the Australian Government to establish a harmonised and nationally consistent assistive technology program in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Media Release

Carers Australia thanks outgoing Chair and CEO

2 December 2021 – 152.51 KB

Carers Australia is today celebrating the leadership of its outgoing Chair, Ms Sonia Rutnam and outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Ms Liz Callaghan.

Media Release

Help identify hidden young carers this National Carers Week

15 October 2021 – 170.06 KB

Educational institutions around the country are being encouraged to identify and support young carers in their classrooms with the help of a new toolkit from Australia’s peak body for unpaid carers.

Media Release

Calls for GPs to help improve carer wellbeing this National Carers Week

14 October 2021 – 172.12 KB

Carers Australia are asking General Practitioners and other medical professionals to help improve carer health and wellbeing through social prescribing.

Media Release

The importance of having access to support for unpaid carers is clear

12 October 2021 – 183.06 KB

Recent outcomes from a survey conducted by Carers Australia and the University of Canberra has identified that unpaid carers are lonelier, in poorer physical and mental health, and are less likely to be employed compared to the average Australian.