The 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics survey of disability, ageing and carers estimated that 222,700 South Australians provided ongoing assistance to someone with a disability or an age-related frailty. The number is probably much higher given the lack of carer self-identification and the time that has since elapsed.
The ageing of the population will increase the number of people relying on carers. Pressure will be placed on the availability and willingness of families to provide care and also on the capacity of funded services to provide more formal support.
Carers definitions
The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, through the Office for Carers, administers the SA Carer Recognition Act 2005 and the associated SA Carers Charter. The Act aims to improve recognition and support for carers by providing the legislative framework to ensure that carers have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other South Australians.
Who is a carer?
A carer, for the purposes of the Act, is a family member or friend who provides unpaid ongoing care or assistance to:
- a person who has a disability within the meaning of the Disability Services Act 1993;
or - a person who has a chronic illness, including a mental illness within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1993;
or - a person who, because of frailty, requires assistance with the carrying out of everyday tasks.
A carer may not necessarily receive a Carers Allowance, Carers Payment or Carers Supplement from Centrelink. Many carers are still employed or have assets that preclude them from accessing Government financial support. See Money matters for more information.
Who is not a carer for the purposes of the Act?
A person is not a carer if they provide the care or assistance:
- under a contract for services;
or - in the course of doing community work organised by a community organisation within the meaning of the Volunteers Protection Act 2001.
Carers profile
- The peak age group for caring in SA is between 45 and 64 years, with people in this age bracket accounting for 54% of the carer population.
- Older carers over 65 years of age accounted for 36% of the carer population.
- 71% of primary carers are female.
- 44% of primary carers report having a disability themselves.
Time spent caring
63% of primary carers in SA provide at least 20 hours of care each week with 48% of these providing 40 hours or more. This is higher than the national average suggesting that South Australia has a higher level of disability or a greater number of carers providing assistance to more than one person.
Further information and carer statistics available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Carers SA websites.
Young carers
It is estimated that there are 30,000 young carers in SA, of whom 14,800 are under the age of 18. Approximately 600 children under the age of nine undertake caring responsibilities.
In families where there is an adult with a disability or chronic illness, doctors and other health professionals should be alert to the existence of young carers. This is especially important in single parent families or if the patient is accompanied to appointments by a child or young person.
Children and young people sometimes undertake inappropriate levels of care because they are reluctant to ask for help. Both patient and young carer should be referred to support services as early as possible.
More information
On this site
Young carers