Carer support

Who are carers?

Carers are people who provide ongoing, unpaid support to others due to disability, chronic or mental illness, frail age, dementia, or substance dependency. This includes foster carers supporting children with additional needs. Some carers may be eligible for support services or payments.

Carers may assist with personal care, daily tasks, or practical activities like transport or shopping, depending on the needs of the person they support.

Find out more about carers

Types of carers

Deaf Indian girl and mother communicating using sign language.

Parent carers

Parents or guardians who provide ongoing care for their child due to disability, chronic illness or developmental delay.

For example, a parent supporting a child with autism, cerebral palsy or other complex needs in daily life.

Asian senior woman hugging her granddaughter on a white couch.

Young carers

Children and young people who help care for a parent, sibling or grandparent with disability, illness, mental health challenges or addiction.

For example, a teenager supporting a parent with schizophrenia to manage daily tasks.

A multi generation family looking at the picture just taken on the mobile phone and smiling.

Carers for elderly family members

People who support parents, grandparents or other relatives who need help due to ageing.

For example, an adult child caring for their ageing mother who has mobility issues or dementia, and needs support with daily tasks and medical appointments.

Girl with Down Syndrome smiles with excitement while coloring with her dad at home.

Carers for people with disabilities

People who care for friends or family members with physical, intellectual or psychosocial disabilities.

For example, a father caring for his daughter with Down syndrome.

Mental health carers

People who support a family member, partner or friend living with a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, depression or PTSD.

For example, adult children supporting their mother through mental health challenges.

A woman putting a blanket over another woman sitting in a chair's shoulders.

Carers for people with chronic illness or terminal conditions

People who support someone with a long-term illness such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, or who is receiving palliative care.

For example, a daughter supporting her mother through chemotherapy.

Support for carers

All carers

Carer Payment
A payment provided by Services Australia for someone giving constant care to someone with disability or a medical condition, or an adult who’s frail aged.

Carer Allowance
A supplementary payment if you give daily care to someone with disability, a medical condition or who is frail aged.

Carer Supplement
An annual payment if you have caring responsibilities and get certain carer or Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments.

Carer Gateway
Call 1800 422 737 to get in touch with an Australian Government service that connects carers with the information, support and services they need.

Carer Gateway Community Forum
The Carer Forum provides a safe, anonymous space to connect with other carers and support each other.

Carer Gateway Counselling Service
A free service for carers, operating each weekday, from 8am to 6pm. Their professional counsellors are available to talk through the concerns you have and how you feel about your carer role. Call 1800 422 737 and select option 2 to speak to a counsellor.

Carers Australia
The national leading organisation representing all unpaid carers, advocating for their interests to shape policies and services across Australia.

Carers NSW
Provides advocacy, support, and services tailored to carers in NSW.

Companion Card
Allows a cardholder’s support person or carer free entry into participating venues and events and to use public transport for free. Call 1800 893 044 for more information.

Peer support groups for carers
Carer Gateway can help you to meet people who also care for a family member or friend, either through in-person meetings or through an online community forum.

Respite care
‘Respite’ or ‘respite care’ is when someone else takes care of the person you care for, so that you can have a break.

Service NSW
Provides information on accessing services, programs and financial help.

Parent carers

AbSec Carer Support service
AbSec is the peak organisation concerned with the welfare of Aboriginal children, young people and families in NSW. Their Aboriginal Carer Support Service aims to improve the information, support, and training opportunities for carers of Aboriginal children and young people in NSW.

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme
A group of payments for parents and carers of children who can't go to a local state school because of geographical isolation, disability or special needs.

Carer Adjustment Payment claims
The Carer Adjustment Payment is a one-time payment providing financial assistance of up to $10,000 to families in exceptional circumstances where a child aged under 7 is diagnosed with a severe disability or severe medical condition and they do not qualify for any government income support payments.

Child Care Subsidy
Helps with the cost of approved child care if you have at least 14% care of the child and are responsible for paying child care fees for the child.

Additional Child Care Subsidy
Gives families meeting certain criteria extra assistance with the cost of approved child care.

Child Disability Assistance Payment
An annual payment if you get Carer Allowance when looking after a child with disability or medical condition.

Child Wellbeing subsidy
If you are eligible, this subsidy gives extra help to families where a child is vulnerable or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect.

My Forever Family NSW carer support
An annual payment if you get Carer Allowance when looking after a child with disability or medical condition.

MyTime
Peer support groups for all parents and carers of children aged under 18 who need a higher level of care than other children.

Parent Pathways
If you’re a parent or carer for a child aged under 6, you may be able to get help to meet your personal, study or work goals.

Parenting Payment
The main income support payment while you’re a young child’s main carer.

Young carers

Young Carers Bursary
Financial support to young carers aged 12 to 25 who are balancing education with unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or who is elderly.

Young Carer Hub
A key hub for information and support, connecting young people with caring responsibilities to resources and services.

Young Carers Network
A nationally coordinated resource to raise young carer awareness, providing information and direct young carers to appropriate pathways for support.

Carers for elderly family members

Dementia Support Australia
Advocates for the needs of people living with all types of dementia, and for their families and carers, and provide support services, education and information.

My Aged Care
Providing the information and support you need to understand, access and navigate the aged care system.

Mental health carers

Mental Health Carers NSW
A non-government organisation that provides systemic advocacy and support for families, relatives and friends of people who experience mental illness, living in NSW.

Carers for people with disabilities

Child Disability Assistance Payment
An annual payment if you get Carer Allowance when looking after a child with disability or medical condition.

NDIS carer support
The NDIS can provide respite care for those caring for people with disabilities who are signed up to the NDIS plan.

Foster carers and other non-parent carers

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme
A group of payments for parents and carers of children who can't go to a local state school because of geographical isolation, disability or special needs.

Barnardos
Barnardos supports foster carers through specialised training, 24/7 support, financial assistance, respite care, peer connections, and your own case manager.

Child Care Subsidy
Helps with the cost of approved child care if you have at least 14% care of the child and are responsible for paying child care fees for the child.

Additional Child Care Subsidy
Gives families meeting certain criteria extra assistance with the cost of approved child care.

Child Wellbeing subsidy
If you are eligible for the Child care Subsidy, this subsidy gives extra help to families where a child is vulnerable or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect.

Foster Child Health Care Card
A concession card to get cheaper medicines and certain discounts.

Foster, relative and kinship care
Information on how to become a foster or relative kinship carer, what’s involved, different types of care and how to access supports.

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers
Supporting formal and informal carers who provide ongoing care for children.

Helping a young person prepare for leaving care
Young people need the support of their carers to help them prepare for adult lives, build positive connections and achieve their life goals.

Key Assets Australia
Key Assets Australia assists foster carers via specialised training, a non-taxable allowance, respite care, carer networking and other support services.

Legal rights and responsibilities for carers
Information about carer legal rights and responsibilities, including Code of Conduct, Partnership agreement with DCJ, and release of placement information.

Life Without Barriers
Foster carers at Life Without Barriers will benefit from 24/7 support, specialised training, a non-taxable allowance, respite care and carer networking services.