Carers look after someone who needs help with their day-to-day living.

Carers are often partners and family members but could also be colleagues, friends or neighbours.

What do carers do?

Many carers who live with a person with Parkinson’s will not view themselves as a ‘carer’. First and foremost, they will view themselves as a parent, wife, husband, sibling, son, daughter or partner. Carers can be any age. Children and young adults (aged 5 to 25) are called young carers.

Learn more about carers in our Young Onset Parkinson’s Exchange articles or carer’s FAQ’s on this site.

Key Statistics

  • There are approximately 3.0 million carers, representing 11.9% of all Australians living in households.
  • 12.8% of all females are carers, compared with 11.1% of all males.
  • There are 391,300 young carers (under the age of 25), up from 235,300 in 2018.
  • The value of informal care in Australia was estimated to be $77.9 billion in 2020. This figure represents the cost of replacing the care provided by unpaid carers with formal paid services.

Where can I get carer supports from and what kinds of help can I receive?

In Australia, there are numerous supports available for carers:

Planned respite
Planned respite care allows carers to take a break while ensuring that the person they care for is looked after. This can be arranged in advance for a few hours, days, or longer. You can find more information on planned respite through Carer Gateway.

Emergency respite
Emergency respite care is available if your usual carer is unexpectedly unable to provide care. This can be due to illness, injury, or other urgent situations. You can access emergency respite services through Carer Gateway.

Young Carers Network
The Young Carers Network is a nationally coordinated resource that raises awareness, provides information, and directs young carers to appropriate support pathways. You can learn more about the network and its services.

Young Carer Bursary
The Young Carer Bursary Program supports young carers to continue their education by providing financial assistance. Each bursary is worth $4,000 and can be used for educational expenses. More details can be found on the Young Carers Network.

Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program that provides free services and support for carers. Services include counselling, peer support, tailored support packages, and respite care. You can access these services through the Carer Gateway website.

Carers Australia
Carers Australia is the national peak body representing unpaid carers. They provide advocacy, support, and resources for carers across the country. You can find more information on the Carers Australia website.

NDIS Carer Supports
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides various supports for carers, including respite care, support coordination, and plan management. You can learn more about NDIS carer supports [here](https://bing.com/search?q=NDIS+carer+supports).

My Aged Care (MAC)
My Aged Care provides information and access to aged care services, including respite care and support for carers. You can find more information on their website.

Infosheet under review

References:

(1) Kinchin, Irina, Edwards, Layla, Adrion, Emily, Chen, Yaohua, Ashour, Aya, Leroi, Iracema, Brugulat-Serrat, Anna, Phillips, Jane, Masterson, Fiona, & Kochovska, Slavica (2022) Care partner needs of people with neurodegenerative disorders: What are the needs, and how well do the current assessment tools capture these needs? A systematic meta-review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(7), pp. 1-18.

Happy middle aged man with neat white beard and glasses looking at a laptop

Donations

Your donation helps us to achieve our core business, to improve the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s in Australia through national advocacy, raising awareness and connecting people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, researchers and health professionals in the Parkinson’s community.