Caring essentials

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

There are three million carers in Australia, which means about 1 in 8 people in Australia are carers.

Many people don’t see themselves as carers. They are just children, parents, partners, relatives or friends who care for someone close to them.

If you have just started to care for someone, we know you will have many things to do and think about.

Once you have some of the key supports in place, it’s a good idea to look around and see what el

You can do this. You don’t have to know everything all at once. You can get help.

One of the roles of a carer is to speak up for someone who may not be able to speak for themselves, or who may need help in getting the help or services they need.

Many carers find that they go through different ‘stages’ during their caring role. It’s useful to understand that these stages are normal, and you can get help at every stage.

We know that carers cope best when they have help and support. In Australia, there are many services and supports ready to help you and the person you care for. But we also know that many carers don’t ask for help.