When Australians think about the disability sector, they often think about support workers, allied health professionals, hospitals, aged care providers and the NDIS.
What many people don’t see is the enormous workforce operating quietly behind the scenes.
They don’t wear uniforms.
They don’t clock on and off.
Most are never paid for the work they do.
Yet without them, Australia’s health, disability and aged care systems would struggle to function.
They are Australia’s family carers.
The Most Important Workforce You’ve Never Heard Of
Every day across Australia, millions of people provide unpaid care and support to a family member, partner, friend, neighbour or loved one living with disability, chronic illness, mental illness or age-related frailty. [aihw.gov.au], [carersaust…lia.com.au]
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are approximately 3 million carers in Australia, representing almost 12% of the population. Around 1.2 million are primary carers, meaning they provide the majority of support to the person they care for. [abs.gov.au], [aihw.gov.au]
These carers assist with:
- Personal care
- Medication management
- Transport
- Shopping
- Meal preparation
- Appointment coordination
- Emotional support
- Advocacy
- Navigating healthcare, disability and government systems
For many people, caring is not a role.
It’s a way of life.
The Economic Contribution Nobody Talks About
If Australia’s carers stopped providing support tomorrow, the impact would be immediate.
Families would be overwhelmed.
Hospitals would become congested.
Disability services would be stretched beyond capacity.
Healthcare costs would skyrocket.
Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics analysis estimated the value of unpaid care at approximately $461 billion in a single quarter when measured using replacement cost methods, highlighting the enormous economic contribution carers make to Australian society. [abs.gov.au], [abs.gov.au]
Other carer organisations have estimated the annual replacement value of unpaid caring at tens of billions of dollars each year. [carersaust…lia.com.au], [carersaust…lia.com.au]
The reality is simple:
Family carers are one of Australia’s largest and least recognised workforces.
Behind Every Participant Is Often a Carer
When an NDIS participant attends therapy, achieves a goal, transitions to independent living or successfully navigates a planning meeting, there is often somebody helping behind the scenes.
A parent.
A partner.
A sibling.
A grandparent.
A friend.
Many carers:
- Coordinate appointments
- Manage paperwork
- Attend planning meetings
- Advocate for funding
- Support daily routines
- Respond to unexpected crises
Yet their contribution often remains invisible.
Caring Comes at a Personal Cost
While caring can be rewarding and deeply meaningful, it can also have significant impacts on a person’s own health, employment opportunities and financial security.
Research consistently shows that carers are more likely to experience:
- Reduced workforce participation
- Financial stress
- Social isolation
- Fatigue
- Physical health challenges
- Mental health pressures
Many carers reduce their working hours or leave employment entirely to meet caring responsibilities. [carersaust…lia.com.au], [aifs.gov.au]
The consequences can last for years, affecting:
- Household income
- Career progression
- Superannuation
- Retirement savings
- Personal wellbeing
In many cases, carers sacrifice their own goals to support someone they love.
Young Carers Are Often Overlooked
Not all carers are adults.
According to the ABS, there were more than 391,000 young carers under the age of 25 in Australia in 2022, a significant increase from previous years. [abs.gov.au]
Many young carers balance:
- School
- University
- Employment
- Social relationships
while also helping support a parent, sibling or family member.
Their contributions often go unnoticed by the wider community.
The Carers Who Need Care Themselves
One of the most surprising statistics from the ABS is that nearly 44% of primary carers have a disability themselves. [abs.gov.au]
These individuals are frequently navigating their own health or disability-related challenges while simultaneously caring for somebody else.
It’s a powerful reminder that caring and disability are often deeply interconnected experiences.
Why Recognition Matters
Recognising carers isn’t simply about expressing gratitude.
It’s about understanding reality.
Family carers are not an “extra.”
They are a critical part of Australia’s care infrastructure.
Policy conversations about:
- Disability
- Healthcare
- Aged care
- Employment
- Housing
- Cost of living
must also include carers.
Because when carers are unsupported, everyone feels the impact.
What Happens When the Carer Gets Sick?
For many families, one question sits quietly in the background:
“What happens if I can no longer provide care?”
It’s one of the greatest fears experienced by parents of children with disability, ageing carers and long-term family supporters.
The answer highlights why building strong support networks, sustainable services and long-term planning is so important.
No system should depend entirely on the resilience of one exhausted person.
Carers need support too.
What Lion and Mouse Believes
At Lion and Mouse Australia, we recognise that disability support is rarely a journey taken alone.
Behind many participants are family members and carers providing extraordinary levels of commitment, advocacy and love.
We believe carers deserve:
- Respect
- Recognition
- Better support
- Greater flexibility
- Access to respite
- Inclusion in planning conversations
- A stronger voice in policy discussions
Most importantly, they deserve acknowledgement for the critical role they play in helping people with disability live the lives they choose.
Carer Gateway: Support for the People Who Provide Support
One of the biggest misconceptions about caring is that carers are expected to simply “cope.”
The reality is that carers need support too.
Many family carers spend years coordinating appointments, managing medications, navigating the NDIS, advocating for loved ones and balancing caring responsibilities alongside work, study and family life. Over time, this can have a significant impact on physical health, mental wellbeing and financial security. [health.gov.au], [ndis.gov.au]
Fortunately, support is available.
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program designed specifically to support unpaid carers. It provides a range of free services aimed at helping carers manage daily challenges, reduce stress, build skills and plan for the future. [health.gov.au], [carergateway.gov.au]
Services available through Carer Gateway may include:
- Counselling and emotional support
- Peer support groups
- One-on-one coaching
- Online skills and education programs
- Tailored support packages
- Planned respite services
- Emergency respite support
- Assistance navigating services such as the NDIS and My Aged Care [health.gov.au], [carersaust…lia.com.au], [carersvict…ria.org.au]
Importantly, Carer Gateway recognises that carers often need assistance before they reach crisis point. The program focuses on early intervention and practical support to help carers maintain their own wellbeing while continuing in their caring role. [health.gov.au]
If you provide unpaid support to a family member or friend living with disability, a chronic illness, mental health condition or age-related needs, you may be eligible for assistance through Carer Gateway. [carersvict…ria.org.au], [carergateway.gov.au]
Getting Help
📞 Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737
🌐 Website: www.carergateway.gov.au
Sometimes the strongest thing a carer can do is ask for support themselves. Caring for others is important, but maintaining your own health and wellbeing matters too. [carergateway.gov.au], [health.gov.au]
Making the Invisible Visible
Australia’s carers are often described as invisible.
But their contribution is anything but.
They help people remain connected to their communities.
They help people live at home.
They help people navigate complex systems.
They help people achieve their goals.
And they do it largely because they care.
The future of disability support isn’t just about investing in services.
It’s also about recognising, supporting and valuing the millions of Australians who quietly provide care every single day.
Because behind every great support system is often someone whose contribution goes unseen.
And it’s time we started seeing them.
Need Support Along Your Caring Journey?
Whether you’re a participant, family member or carer, Lion and Mouse is here to help navigate the challenges and opportunities of disability support.
📞 1300 048 355
🌐 www.lionandmouse.com.au
Lion and Mouse Australia Ltd is a registered Australian charity committed to empowering people with disability, supporting families and recognising the invaluable contribution of carers across Australia.