Carers celebrated as National Carers Week launches next week

AUSTRALIA'S 2.7 million unpaid carers will be recognised and celebrated during National Carers Week 2019 this October.

The national campaign will officially launch in Brisbane on Friday, October 11, at the Gala Lunch event hosted by Carers Queensland at Hillstone, St Lucia.

National Carers Week runs from October 13- 19 and it helps raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the vital contribution they make to families and communities throughout Australia. 

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Why We Care’ and it encourages Australians to visit the Carers Week website (carersweek.com.au) to share their stories and say why they care.

Jim Toohey, chair of Carers Queensland said Carers Week is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.

“One in eight Australians is a carer. The value of their caring role estimated at $60.3 billion per year and yet carers often experience social isolation and find it harder to maintain employment, enter the workforce or participate in education,” Mr Toohey said. 

“In Queensland, there are 474,300 carers providing 334 million hours of care annually.

“Carers, the people they care for and their families are at the centre of everything we do. We work with them to improve their quality of life,” he said. 

The Gala Lunch event will be attended by carers, State Government representatives and other dignitaries, with entertainment by guest speaker, medical doctor and author Helena Popovic.

During the event, state winners of the Carer-Friendly Business Awards will be announced, acknowledging those individuals and businesses who have made a real difference in the community.

As part of the National Carers Week celebrations, Carers Queensland will also be running a range of events and awareness activities across Queensland for the broader community to get involved and say why they care. 

For more information on Carers Week events or to get involved visit http://carersqld.com.au/carers-week or contact Carers Queensland on 1800 242 636. 

Event Details 
Date: Friday, October 11 2019
Venue: Hillstone, St Lucia
Carawa Street, St Lucia 
Time: 12–3pm. 
Awards presentation at 2pm.

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