National Carers Week: Recognising the people who care for others

National Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the more than 3 million Australians who provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend.

This year’s theme, Care for a carer: Making carers visible, is a reminder that caring can often happen quietly in the background. Many people don’t identify themselves as a carer, they simply see themselves as looking after a neighbour, friend or someone they love. So they often miss out on support that might be available to them.

The North Coast region in NSW has the highest rate of unpaid carers in the state, and shares the fourth highest rate across the country.

Carers make an enormous contribution to the health and wellbeing of our communities. Healthy North Coast is marking National Carers Week with a range of activities for community members and health professionals.

Our Healthy Carers project team is offerings either 15-minute ‘Practice Huddles’ or 1-hour accredited education sessions that are designed to support primary care providers and teams to better identify and support unpaid carers.

• Express your interest for a 15-minute practice huddle or a 1-hour education session

National Carers Week is a chance for all of us to think about the carers in our lives, and what we can do to support them.

A simple conversation, an offer of practical help, or connecting someone with the right support can make a meaningful difference.

If you’re a carer, or know someone who is, the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway provides free support, advice, counselling, peer support and respite services. Call 1800 422 737 or visit Carer Gateway for more information.

Healthy North Coast is also working with health professionals and community partners to improve how carers are identified, recognised and supported across the North Coast. You can read more about this work on our Recognising Carers webpage.

There are also a bunch of resources and a toolkit available on the National Carers Week website, allowing you to easily spread the word.