CHSP Provider Hub

The Australian Government released its first Annual Report for the National Carer Strategy 2024-2034 in 2024.

The National Carer Strategy sets out a 10-year national plan to improve support for Australia’s unpaid carers. The annual report highlights implemented actions such as the additional 10,000 phone counselling sessions available to carers each year. These sessions will be available free-of-charge through Carer Gateway.

The annual report shows progress has been made over the last 12 months to:

• Improve access to mental health support, respite arrangements, and peer support.
• Identify appropriate and culturally safe free online training courses to better support carers in their role.

This annual report is part of the government’s commitment to provide information on the progress of the Strategy and current Action Plan. Read the annual report.

We acknowledge the valuable roles that paid and unpaid carers undertake to support their loved ones and thank them for their ongoing contributions. We know, as outlined in the annual report, the impact of caring can be significant on the carer's wellbeing.

• 31% report high psychological distress (more than double the rate for the general population
• 42% report feeling lonely often or always
• 58% report there is a lack of available respite services in their area
• 71% were unable to accpet employment opportunities due to being a carer
• 16% report poor or very poor household finances
• 64% report their household financial situation has worseened since becoming a carer
• more than 70% of carers do not feel recognised by government
• almost one-third took more than a year to identify themselves as a carer

Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers. If you care for a family member or friend with disability, a medical condition, mental illness, or who is frail due to age, then Carer Gateway can help you. The Australian Government works with a range of health and carer organisations across Australia, known as Carer Gateway service providers, to deliver services to carers no matter where they live in Australia. Carer Gateway provides many services to support carers in their caring role, including:

• in-person and online peer support groups
• tailored support packages to help with accessing planned respite, transport services, and more
• in-person and phone counselling
• in-person and online self-guided coaching
• online skills courses to support your wellbeing and understanding of legal responsibilities relating to the caring role
• access to emergency respite if you suddenly find you can’t provide care, for example if you become ill or injured.

If you know of a carer in need of support, please connect them with Carer Gateway.