Recognising and valuing the role of unpaid carers: inquiry to hear from Carers Australia and individual carers

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hear from Carers Australia and two individual carers at its first public hearing on Tuesday, August 8, for its Inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers.

Chair of the Committee, Peta Murphy MP, said, "in 2020 it was estimated that there were 2.8 million unpaid carers in Australia providing nearly 2.2 billion hours of unpaid care.

"This hearing will be an opportunity to hear from Carers Australia, the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, about its views on whether the current Carer Recognition Act 2010 is fit for purpose and whether it appropriately recognises and values the diversity of such a large cohort.

"The Committee will also hear personal stories from two individual carers to better understand the significant contribution of carers and their challenges," Ms Murphy said.

"A lot has changed since the Act was established in 2010, and demographic shifts suggest there is a growing gap between demand for care and the capacity of Australians to take on caring roles. The Committee is examining the Act with a view to strengthening and modernising it," Ms Murphy said.

The committee will conduct further public hearings in August 2023. Submissions to the inquiry close on Friday, August 11, 2023, however late submissions will still be considered.

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Time: 4:30pm to 6pm AEST
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be live streamed on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live.

Further information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference and published submissions, are available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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