About National Carers Week
National Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about Australia's 3 million carers.
In 2024, National Carers Week will run from Sunday 13 to Saturday 19 October.
Millions of Reasons to Care
Our theme, ‘Millions of Reasons to Care’, aims to broaden the awareness of the 3 million Australians caring for their family members and friends. Carers represent a diverse range of cultures, ages, experiences and responsibilities, but all of them balance of caring responsibilities with other responsibilities like work, study and their physical and mental health.
There are so many ways to take part in #NationalCarersWeek! Check out our Resource hub where you can download assets to tell your community why you care about carers and to celebrate carers in your community or workplace.
We also encourage you to hold an event to mark this important week and show carers that you care.
A chance to show appreciation for carers
More than one in ten Australians are carers. They make an enormous contribution to our community as well as our national economy.
National Carers Week provides you with a chance to show your appreciation for Australia’s 3 million carers.
A chance to learn and raise awareness about carers
Help raise awareness this National Carers Week by inviting workmates, friends and family to an event to raise awareness of the diversity of carers and caring roles in Australia.
Organise a morning or afternoon tea, fundraiser or workshop to help recognise carers, identify what caring looks like, and find out what supports and services are available to carers.
By Carers Australia, for the carers of Australia
National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and coordinated with the assistance and participation of the National Carer Network.
A recent history of National Carers Week
An official awareness-raising week for Australia’s unpaid family and friend carers has been held every year since 1992.
Then known as Carer Awareness Week, the week was the first of its kind in Australia to raise public awareness of the important and challenging role of carers. The theme was 'Carers Need Care Too!'
National Carers Week 2023
We celebrated the beginning of the week with a recorded video message from the Prime Minister and continued the theme of 'Millions of Reasons to Care'. Our aim was to acknowledge the millions of carers around Australia and the incredible contributions they make to the country.
National Carers Week 2022
We celebrated 30 years of National Carers Week!
We continued the theme of 'Millions of Reasons to Care' to raise awareness of the incredible contributions made by the millions of carers around the country. We began the week with a message from the Prime Minister, provided a range of resources on identifying and supporting carers, and helped highlight the voices of carers.
National Carers Week 2021
Carers from around the country joined us as the 2021 National Carers Week Ambassadors. These carers shared their experiences of caring for their loved ones and told us why they care to showcase the many different forms of caring undertaken by Australia's 2.65 million carers.
The 'Millions of Reasons to Care' theme aimed to bring attention to the millions of carers around the country and paint an authentic picture of caring in Australia.
National Carers Week 2020
Singing duo, Jess and Lisa Origliasso, also known as The Veronicas, joined us as the 2020 National Carers Week Ambassadors. They care for their mum, Colleen, who lives with the rare degenerative disease. In sharing their caring story, they reflected on the importance of recognising themselves as carers.
For a final time, we asked carers to 'Tell Us Why You Care', so we could provide a window into the lives of carers across Australia and celebrate their tremendous contribution to our nation.
National Carers Week 2019
AFLW star, Moana Hope, and NRL legend, Mat Rogers and his wife, Chloe Maxwell, were our 2019 National Carers Week Ambassadors. Their personal caring stories for sister, Vinny, and son, Max, respectively enabled us to engage several high-profile media outlets to tell the story of caring during National Carers Week.
The popular 'Tell Us Why You Care' theme returned again, with hundreds of stories submitted by carers which helped thousands of Australians have a greater appreciation of the caring role.
National Carers Week 2018
Olympic gold medal-winning swimmers, Cate and Bronte Campbell, were the 2018 National Carers Week Ambassadors. They shared with us their experiences of caring for their brother, Hamish, who has severe cerebral palsy. Cate and Bronte were able to continue sharing the message that anyone, anytime can become a carer.
In 2018, all carers were encouraged to ‘Tell Us Why You Care’ and submit their own personal caring story on the official website to help us paint an authentic picture of caring in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about caring and National Carers Week.
Who are carers?
Carers are a family member or friend who provide unpaid care and support for someone that has a disability, chronic condition, terminal illness, is frail aged, has a mental health illness, or alcohol or other drug related issue.
Anyone can be a carer, but many people don’t identify as one. Caring may include help and support with a range of daily activities, including dressing, showering, arranging doctors’ appointments or managing medications.
Carers are an important part of Australia’s health system and are the foundation of our aged, disability, palliative and community care systems.
How can I get involved in National Carers Week?
There are so many ways to take part in National Carers Week!
We’re asking everyone to get involved in National Carers Week by attending or hosting a National Carers Week event. This can be a morning tea, afternoon tea, a walk or some other activity.
You can also put up a National Carers Week poster, support the week on social media or check out our Caring for Carers resources.
What is Carers Australia?
Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, advocating on their behalf to influence policies and services at a national level. We work collaboratively with partners and our member organisations, the National Carer Network.
Our vision is an Australia that values and supports the contribution that carers make both to the people they care for and to the community as a whole.
I think I might be a carer. Where can I find support?
If you are a carer, you can get help and support from the government and other organisations.
Carer Gateway provides a range of supports and services to carers around Australia, including information and advice, peer support, free counselling, coaching and training. Each region in Australia has a Carer Gateway service provider, which can let you know what supports and services are available in your area.
Carers Australia has a range of resources available on our website, which will help you learn more about the NDIS and general carer wellbeing.
If you are a carer under the age of 25, you can find a range of supports and services, including the Young Carer Bursary program, on the Young Carer Network.
What events are happening near me?
Each year, a variety of events and activities take place around Australia throughout National Carers Week. Head to our events page to view the interactive map of events.
You can also register and host your own event and have it promoted on the website.