This Issues Brief has been developed to inform the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs (Committee) for the Inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers (Inquiry) adopted on 13 June 2023, following a referral from the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.

This Brief outline key information on Australia’s carers, information on the Carers Recognition Acts across Australia and, in particular, the national Carer Recognition Act, and the extent to which the introduction of that Act is reflected in other legislation which directly affects carers.