Carers NSW has released today the full results from the 2024 National Carer Survey, revealing widespread financial stress and low recognition among Australia's 3 million family and friend carers, putting their ability to keep caring at risk.
The 2024 National Carer Survey provides the most detailed insight into the lived experiences of Australia's family and friend carers, highlighting two critical issues: the impact of the rising cost of living and the ongoing gap in recognition and support for carers.
More than 10,000 carers responded to the survey, including strong representation from young carers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers, and sexuality and gender diverse carers, helping to deepen understanding of their unique challenges, strengths and support needs.
Conducted in a period of economic uncertainty marked by inflation and soaring living costs, the 2024 National Carer Survey found:
- Nearly one in three carers who responded did not always have enough food.
- Fewer than half could reliably access affordable health services.
- More than half experienced at least one form of financial stress, higher than in previous years.
Carers NSW CEO, Elena Katrakis said, "These findings from the 2024 National Carer Survey highlight that many carers are doing it tough, often going without basic essentials like food and healthcare, while shouldering the immense responsibility of looking after their loved ones."
The 2024 National Carer Survey also highlights a continuing lack of recognition for carers, a focus of the new National Carer Strategy. While some carers who responded felt involved in decisions made by service providers, few were asked about their own support needs, particularly in the disability and mental health sectors.
"Carers continue to be overlooked, despite playing a critical role in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community," said Ms Katrakis. "Recognition isn't just about acknowledgement, it's about being heard, included, and supported. When carers are left out of decisions and their own needs ignored, it has a real impact on their wellbeing. Improving carer recognition and inclusion across all service sectors is essential."
Key findings from the 2024 National Carer Survey: Summary report include:
- The number of carers experiencing four or more types of financial stress rose by more than one-third, from 14.4% in 2020 to 19.5% in 2024.
- 36.0% of respondents spent more than their income in a month.
- 77.6% of carers receiving the Carer Payment were experiencing financial stress.
- Alarmingly, nearly one in three (30.0%) did not always have enough food, and fewer than half (42.1%) could reliably access affordable healthcare services.
- More than half (57.6%) of respondents felt unrecognised by government, and nearly half (46.4%) felt their community did not recognised or value their caring role.
- Only 44.1% feel recognised and valued by service providers, despite their critical role as partners in care.
The 2024 National Carer Survey was conducted by Carers NSW with the support of the State and Territory Carer Organisations and an expert reference committee that includes carers, service providers and academics from several universities. Carers NSW receives funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to conduct the biennial National Carer Survey.
