What was the Inquiry?
Unpaid carers (carers) are heroes in our communities, but their roles are largely unrecognised and undervalued. Carers provide 2.2 billion hours of unpaid care each year in Australia, which would cost nearly $80 billion to replace with formal paid care. Carers often sacrifice their careers and retirement plans, education goals, social lives, and health and wellbeing to look after the needs of others, and many do so with little support. However, demand for unpaid care is expected to outpace the number of carers taking on caring roles in the future. If we do not look after carers now, Australia will need to address an increasing carer deficit in the future as our population changes.
The Royal Commission Inquiry Committee examined the effectiveness of the Carer Recognition Act 2010 (the Act) in recognising and raising awareness of the role of carers, developments in the policy landscape since the Act was established and considered options for reform.
Summary of recommendations
Carers provide significant cost savings to the healthcare system by caring for people living with chronic illness or disability at home, to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing. Carers require support to improve their outcomes, however, little is known about carers and how and when they can best be supported. This is particularly evident for carers from priority population groups and those who do not identify with the term ‘carer’.
Frameworks exist to assess carers; however these are poorly implemented creating inequalities in healthcare and access to services. More data collected through standardised assessment frameworks is needed to guide government spending and allocation of resources and services for carers. Comprehensive data will identify carers’ outcomes, the suitability of existing services, and clinicians’ knowledge, skills and practices in conducting carer assessments.
There is capacity to support carers within the healthcare system, but it is necessary to shift away from a person-centred model of care and allow space for carers and their own wellbeing. Health system restructures can be supported with existing platforms such as electronic medical records, which will ensure consistent care is provided within one streamlined system. Time to conduct assessment and burden on clinicians are crucial barriers in supporting carers, and this can be addressed through Medicare funded items focusing on carer assessment and provision of support.
Incorporating carers in the healthcare system will require change to promote adoption and sustainability of new practices. Co-design is needed to develop strategies that support carer wellbeing and minimise additional burden on clinicians and the healthcare system.
Inclusion of all key stakeholders including carers, patients, clinicians from all professions, hospital and health service leaders, consumer groups, administration staff, researchers and policy makers, will provide a strong evidence base for implementing strategies which are appropriate for all involved in carer health.
This issues brief highlights the gaps in care for carers in the community. It focuses on limitations in data collected about carers and how assessment is conducted among clinicians. It identifies where healthcare systems, carer assessment and delivery of care can be improved by using a co-design approach with key stakeholders. It outlines strategies to implement carer support in the healthcare setting utilising existing platforms, and how education for clinicians can be provided to upskill and prepare them for essential changes in delivery of care.
- Recommendation 1
Collect comprehensive data related to carers’ wellbeing, service use, and clinicians’ knowledge of carer assessment to inform allocation of government spending and distribution of services for carers. - Recommendation 2
Co-design a health care system to include carers through a ‘carer needs’ assessment framework, expanding the Transition of Care standard, and shifting healthcare models. - Recommendation 3
Implement strategies to support change including education for practicing clinicians, undergraduate education through clinical placement, and MBS funded wellbeing support. - Recommendation 4
Engage in permanent and ongoing evaluation to ensure that carers’ health and wellbeing continue to be supported and that government funding is optimised.
Download the full submission
What did the Inquiry find?
In March 2024, the findings were published in a report titled: Recognising, valuing and supporting unpaid carers.
Acknowledgement
Dr Natalie Winter would like to acknowledge HESTA for funding this work as part of the Deeble Summer Scholarship program and Institute for Health Transformation (Deakin University) for funding her work placement with the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
