Approximately 10% of Australians provide unpaid care to family or friends living with chronic illness or disability, saving $77.9 billion in healthcare expenditure in 2020 alone.

Carers experience negative impacts on their physical, mental, social and financial status as a result of their caring role. However, limited support in the community is resulting in poor health and wellbeing outcomes for carers.

Change in the healthcare system is needed to support carers’ health and wellbeing, which in turn will facilitate care in the community and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

Expansions to existing systems and healthcare standards and principles can be made to include carers as separate consumers, to identify their areas of need and to guide government allocation of fundings and services.