Carers need better recognition and support: Survey
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This National Carers Week 2024, a survey has shed light on the pressing challenges faced by Australia’s unsung heroes – family and friend carers. The 2024 National Carer Survey, conducted by Carers NSW and partner organisations, revealed that nearly half of the over 10,000 respondents feel undervalued and overlooked by both their communities and the government.
The survey exposes significant gaps in the support systems meant to aid carers. Alarmingly, most respondents reported that their own needs were not considered when accessing various care services for their loved ones. This oversight extends across the disability, mental health, and general healthcare sectors.
Carers NSW CEO Elena Katrakis said, “We thank the thousands of carers nation-wide who shared their experiences in the 2024 National Carer Survey. Hearing their voices is so important as we look to improve outcomes for all carers.”
The survey also highlighted specific challenges faced by diverse carer groups. Approximately one-third of First Nations carers reported that mainstream services lack cultural safety. Young carers, too, face unique challenges, with only 20% receiving extra support at school despite their caregiving responsibilities.
These findings coincide with the release of Carers Australia’s annual Carer Wellbeing Survey, which further underscores the personal toll of caregiving, including high levels of loneliness, psychological distress and financial hardship among carers.
The significance of addressing these issues is underscored by the sheer number of Australians involved in caregiving. Dementia Australia reports that over 1.6 million Australians care for someone with dementia alone. Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan stressed the need for continued funding of vital services: “In the last year more than 50,000 people accessed crucial information through Dementia Australia services and more than 6,000 counselling sessions were conducted.”
The personal impact of proper support is evident in testimonials like that of Sanna, a Dementia Australia Advocate: “When I accessed help from support services like Dementia Australia and Carer Gateway, my journey with my mum became much easier.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
