- Cook Government to develop a new WA Carers Strategy
- National Carers Week is celebrated from 12 to 18 October 2025
- This year's theme is 'You are one, know one, or will be one'
- Carers, people with a carer, carer-involved organisations, and others are encouraged to share their feedback during the consultation process
In recognition of the vital role carers play in the community, the Cook Government has announced the development of a new Western Australia Carers Strategy.
Carers give unpaid care to a family member or friend who needs assistance with everyday tasks. People may need help from a carer due to either disability, impairment, mental illness, being frail and aged, or living with a chronic health condition.
Announced as part of National Carers Week, the new strategy will replace the current WA Carers Strategy published in 2016 and set a contemporary, long-term vision for how government, community, and service providers can work together to better support those providing or receiving care.
The strategy will be led by Dr Katrina Stratton MLC, a former social worker and academic with a passion for social justice and extensive experience in working for both government and non-government organisations in both the community services and care sector.
National Carers Week, held from Sunday, 12 October to Saturday, 18 October, is an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness of Australia's three million carers, with this year's theme 'You are one, know one, or will be one'.
The Cook Government is keen to hear directly from Western Australian carers to help shape the new strategy through a State-wide public consultation. This consultation will help ensure the future WA Carers Strategy reflects the diverse voices and needs of carers, including those in regional and remote communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, and young carers.
The consultation period will help build a clearer picture of caring in WA, including how many carers there are, the types of care provided, and the impact of caring. The first phase of the consultation period will involve a survey of carers. The second phase of consultation will involve more targeted consultation with key stakeholders.
Western Australian carers, people with a carer, organisations supporting carers, and people requiring care are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences.
Carers can complete the survey by visiting the WA Carers Strategy website .
As stated by Community Services Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"This National Carers Week we're celebrating the 320,000 unpaid carers across Western Australia who make valuable contributions to our community and to the people they care for.
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting carers both now and into the future.
"That's why we're launching a State-wide public consultation to help shape the new WA Carers Strategy and identify key priority areas.
"We want to hear from as many people with lived experience of caring to help shape the new WA Carers Strategy and ensure we're delivering for Western Australians with caring responsibilities, and consider how we can better support them."
As stated by Dr Katrina Stratton MLC:
"I am delighted to be leading this important project on behalf of the State Government, and I am committed to ensuring carers' voices are at the heart of the shape the new WA Carers Strategy.
"Carers provide extraordinary support to loved ones. This care is often provided with a sense of family responsibility, little recognition and feel like a constant juggle of their carer obligations, work and trying to keep their own household afloat.
"We know carers can feel burnt out - they are so focused on the person they are caring for that often don't pause to think about how they are personally travelling. We want to hear how carers are travelling.
"We know caring for the carer is critical to not only patient outcomes, it's vital for sustaining the wellbeing of the carer. This consultation is a chance to hear directly from carers about own their experiences of caring, and what matters most to them."
