The National Carer Survey

Every two years Carers NSW, together with the Australian State and Territory Carer Organisations, conducts a comprehensive survey to better understand what carers want and need.

Report: First Nations Carers in the National Carer Survey

This report presents the First Nations responses to the National Carer Survey since 2020. It focuses on First Nations carers’ economic and social needs, caring relationships, carers’ experiences accessing services, and their health and wellbeing. In 2024 the National Carer Survey included a dedicated Survey module for First Nations carers. This report aims to amplify their voices in their call for better recognition, inclusion, and understanding of carer’s connection with country and culture.

Findings show that many services do not meet First Nations carers’ needs to support their wellbeing, and that many carers face strong social and economic challenges. Carers identify a lack of recognition from government and the wider community, as well as a need to improve cultural safety and inclusivity of services. First Nations carers however also highlighted their connection to country and culture as a source of strength and resilience. First Nations understanding of care as a holistic, ongoing connection needs to be recognised and valued to better support First Nations carers.

Please direct any questions about this report to the Carers NSW Research team at research@carersnsw.org.au or phone 02 9280 4744.

2024 National Carer Survey - Summary Report

The 2024 National Carer Survey was conducted from 1 June to 31 July 2024 and received 10,096 valid responses of carers from all across Australia.

Carers NSW and the Australian State and Territory Carer Organisations would like to thank all participants for their contribution.

Please direct any questions about the 2024 National Carer Survey to the Carers NSW Research team at research@carersnsw.org.au or phone 02 9280 4744.

2024 National Carer Survey - Fact sheets

National highlights, state and territory highlights, and fact sheets about First Nations carers, young carers and LGBTQ+ carers are available to download below.

About the National Carer Survey

The National Carer Survey is a great way for carers to provide feedback about what is and isn’t working in their caring role, and in the various service systems they access. This information helps Carers NSW and other organisations who work with carers advocate for better support and outcomes for carers.

Carers NSW receives funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to conduct the Carer Survey every two years. Since 2020, the Carer Survey has been conducted Australia-wide with the support of the State and Territory Carer Organisations as the National Carer Survey.

For more information about the National Carer Survey, please phone the Carers NSW Research Team or email research@carersnsw.org.au.

2022 National Carer Survey

The 2022 National Carer Survey was conducted during June and July 2022 and received 6,825 valid responses from across Australia, including 1,352 responses from NSW.

The full report was released on 16 October 2023.

For more information about the 2022 National Carer Survey, please phone the Carers NSW Research Team or email research@carersnsw.org.au.

2020 National Carer Survey

In 2020 the Carers NSW biennial Carer Survey was conducted nationally for the first time, with the support of the National Carer Network. A summary report was launched on Sunday 11 October 2020 to mark the beginning of National Carers Week.

Previous Carer Surveys

Carers NSW has been delivering Carer Surveys for over 40 years. In 2016, for the 40th anniversary of Carers NSW, the 40 years of Carer Surveys in NSW report was published to overview the history of carer research in NSW.

To see other reports or resources from previous Carers NSW Carer Surveys, visit our Policy and Resource Resources webpage.